STOURPORT’S new Tesco store was officially opened this morning with a little help from a 99-year-old former employee.

Louvain Mountford, who worked at the Tesco Metro store, in Lombard Street, was on hand to cut the ceremonial ribbon alongside store manager Chris Collins, Stourport Mayor Cliff Brewer and Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier.

Mrs Mountford also worked for Carpets of Worth, the previous occupants of the new store's site in Severn Road, before working for Tesco until her retirement in 1983.

“It will be sad to see the Lombard Street shop go,” she said.

“However, if this one is successful for the company then that's what matters and from what I’ve seen of it, it’s very nice and light – it’s lovely.”

The opening ceremony also featured a £1,000 donation from Tesco's charity fund to Andrew McKay of the Stourport Civic Group as part of the company’s “commitment” to support the local community.

Mr Collins said: “The team have worked so hard to get everything into place – I’m very proud today.

“The customers I have met this morning have been really complimentary which is fantastic.

“We’ve opened the best store that we can provide to our customers, but now we need to make sure we listen to our consumer feedback and alter the store to suit their needs.”

The new 30,000 sq ft store will be run by a team of 230 staff members, with a collection of it workers welcoming the first customers at 8am this morning.

Of the 230 workers, 185 are new recruits, including 42 jobs given to the long term unemployed and 50 employees relocating from the Lombard Street store.

The opening of the store has not run smoothly however, with the opening date being put back gradually over the last three years, as well as worries from local shopkeepers about how the store will take business away from them.

Mr Brewer said: “I know it has been quite a contentious issue with the rest of the shops in the town, but I’m sure there will be spin-off business from it.”

While Mr Garnier said: “As a local MP I am very much aware of the potential problems that ‘out-of-town’ shops can have on local businesses – but so does Tesco.

“On days like today, when they are celebrating their opening, it’s worth concentrating on the high points in that they have taken on 230 members of staff and train these people very, very well.

“This shop will also attract people from further afield who otherwise wouldn’t have come to the town and the fact that Tesco are making this investment shows they believe in the future of Stourport.”

Opening times for the new store will be from 8am until 8pm Monday to Thursday and 8am until 9pm on Friday and Saturday.

Plans for the store to be open on Sundays will be discussed at the Wyre Forest District Council planning meeting on Tuesday, October 14.