Lidl has announced that its new store under construction in Wellington will not be open to the public until spring next year.

The budget retailer got approval for the new site, next to the Cades Farm roundabout, in January this year, and had initially predicted that it would be opening its doors by Christmas.

In June, the chain updated its expected opening date to the end of February 2023, and last week brought that forward to the second week of February,

However, in its latest statement, the chain gave a vaguer timescale, saying that it is now expecting to open in “spring next year” - with spring set to begin on 20 March next year and carry through to 21 June.

On completion, the Lidl site is expected to create approximately 40 jobs for local people.

Work began on the building in June this year, and the frame is now complete.

A spokesman for Lidl said: "We are delighted to confirm that construction of our new supermarket on Taunton Road, Wellington is now underway and set to open spring next year.

"The new store is set to create around 40 new jobs and represents a multi-million pound investment, which will be fantastic for the local area.

“We are extremely grateful for all the support that we have received so far and would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding whilst we enter this next phase of the development."