A PATISSERIE, delicatessen and rotisserie are some of the counters aiming to tempt shoppers at a new Safeway supermarket, which opened in North Lancashire this week.

The 18,000 ft shop on Lancaster Road, Carnforth, also stocks fresh meat, fruit and vegetables, has a traditional pizza oven, and photo processing facilities.

New store manager Alex Price said it was the first 'new concept supermarket' to open outside London and had been built incorporating the latest technology, including touch screen tills.

The supermarket has created 200 full and part-time jobs, of which 185 have gone to local people.

Mr Price, who has managed four other Safeway stores, paid tribute to the staff, who had undergone training, and worked hard over the last six weeks to get the store ready to open to shoppers on Wednesday.

Planning permission for the shop was granted in 1998, but construction work was put on hold two years ago after the supermarket chain ran into financial difficulties and postponed the opening of any new stores.

Carnforth mayor Ken Bond said: ""I believe the public in Carnforth will welcome this new store as the majority of residents were very much in favour of it.

"It looks a credit to Safeway, and Carnforth, and the influx of jobs is very much welcomed."

Coun Bond was guest of honour at a preview event on Tuesday afternoon, and he presented two £500 cheques on behalf of the store to the Carnforth branch of the Motor Neurones Disease Association, and to the Carnforth Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Carnforth Safeway will be open from 8am-8pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 8am-10pm on Thursday and Friday and 10am-4pm on Sunday.