A Tesco Express store will open its doors in Royston town centre by the end of the month, the embattled supermarket giant has confirmed.

The final touches are being made before the Express store begins trading in Market Hill, creating 20 jobs.

The supermarket chain already has a Tesco Extra store on the outskirts of Royston.

But in recent months it has been announcing closures around the country to balance its books after losing ground to discount retailers and being hit by an accounting scandal.

That hasn’t had any effect on plans for Royston, though. A Tesco spokesman said: “We’re really looking forward to serving the local community and can’t wait to open our store.

“We think the store will be popular with customers as it will offer a wide range of products in a convenient location and create around 20 jobs.”

But not everybody is happy about the store coming to town.

Rosemary Gatward, who shops in Morrisons in Baldock Street, said: “I think it’s rubbish that Tesco are coming to Royston, I won’t be going there. The chain is taking over a historic part of town, spoiling the atmosphere of the market.

“It will bring a modern feel to a traditional high street.”

Clive Porter, who lives in Melbourn, says he fears the supermarket franchise will ruin trade for local businesses.

Meanwhile plans are being put into action for a new Waitrose store as part of the Royston Gateway schemeby the Orchard Road industrial estate, which was given the green light by the district council’s planning committee in December.

Waitrose say the store will create 130 new jobs and the scheme will also include an outlet for the upmarket retailer, a new A505 junction and a storage depot for chemicals firm Johnson Matthey.

A spokesman for Johnson Matthey said: “The warehouse is scheduled to open late spring/early summer 2016 and will create around 35 jobs.

“The new warehouse will deliver substantial sustainability benefits in terms of reduced emissions and fewer articulated vehicles using Royston’s existing road network.”

l How do you feel about supermarket chains coming to town? Let us know, email your views to news@royston-crow.co.uk.