A NEW 11,300 sqft food store which it is hoped will help local trade opened in Bedale on Wednesday.

The 11,300 sq ft Quality Fare development, which has taken shape over the past seven months on formerly derelict land behind the market place, has eight check-outs and a pedestrian entrance through the frontage of Market Court.

Quality Fare paid for a new one-way traffic system through Wycar and The Wynd for shoppers' cars and delivery vans using the rear access, which is in an area where existing roads are narrow and footpaths limited.

The £1.2m store represents the first new build by the Colburn-based chain which has 19 branches around North Yorkshire, County Durham and Northumberland but has previously always taken over and adapted existing buildings.

Licensing laws mean that the new store cannot sell alcohol for about four weeks, and until then the old Quality Fare premises in Bedale will be a temporary off-licence.