ASDA plans to create 3,000 jobs in the next three years.

The supermarket chain wants to increase the number of outlets in its specialist division, or stores-within-stores

These will include photo centres, pharmacies, vision centres and jewellery departments.

The company, now part of US group Wal-Mart, has about 100 stores-within-stores, employing about 900 staff.

But that number will increase about six-fold, with 461 additional ones by the end of 2004.

Asda stores across the region will benefit, with new jewellery and photo departments planned for the York and Gateshead MetroCentre stores.

The development of the speciality division will make Asda similar to its US parent, where such departments already account for 30 per cent of sales.

Asda speciality director David Miles said: "These dynamic and exciting new jobs represent the widest breadth of opportunities ever offered by a British supermarket."

A spokeswoman for Asda added that specialist sales had been extremely strong since the division's launch last year.

She said: "It is simply about offering the kind of services that our customers want to see in the stores. It is about turning Asda into a one-stop-shop for all the customers' needs."

Asda claimed the additional jobs will all be full-time permanent positions, and will be well paid because of their specialist nature.

The spokeswoman added: "Due to the nature of these jobs we will be looking for a raft of professionally-trained people, with the qualifications to carry out the positions.

"Over the next month, Asda's biggest-ever recruitment advertising campaign for professionals will hit magazines such as The Optician."

She added: "Asda plans to scour the UK's universities for Britain's brightest talents, that will help make the new division a success."

Asda has 18 photo shops, 20 vision centres, 78 pharmacies and three jewellery departments at the moment.

By January, they will have risen to 45 photoshops, 50 vision centres, 84 pharmacies and 12 jewellery departments.

By 2004 the group plans 150 photo shops, vision centres and jewellery departments and 130 pharmacies within its supermarkets.