AN eight-year-old schoolboy has been given the honour of opening a town's £5m supermarket.

Matthew Noble, a pupil at Burnside Primary School, in Houghton-le-Spring, will cut the ribbon to declare the 15,000sq ft Co-op open for business on Tuesday.

The store, in Mautland Square, is bringing 125 full- and part-time jobs to the town and is part of a redevelopment of the centre.

North Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op chief executive Neil Arnold said: "We are delighted to bring a Co-operative presence back to Houghton with a modern supermarket, which we hope has acted as a catalyst for the rejuvenation of the town centre.

"The redevelopment first saw the opening of a new library and now, with the launch of our store on the former library site, shoppers in the town will have a major food retailer on their doorsteps, which should provide benefits for all traders in Houghton.''

Matthew won his starring role thanks to an essay competition which the Co-op ran for the town's primary schools. Pupils were asked to describe why they would like to become a VIP.

He will open the store at 9.30am, having been chauffeur driven to the site in a Rolls Royce which is part of the fleet for the Co-op's new car-hire business.

Matthew also wins £250 for his school, £100 for himself and will be treated to a meal in a hotel.

The store also has parking for 130 cars, home delivery, delicatessen, bakery, and National Lottery terminal.