Aldi is targeting sites in our town with a view to opening a store in Hitchin.

The supermarket, which has more than 900 stores across the UK, is looking for a freehold town centre site.

The company requires the site to be around 1.5 acres and able to accommodate a 20,000 sq ft store with around 100 parking spaces, ideally on a prominent main road and with good visibility and access in our town.

Ciaran Aldridge, national property director at Aldi UK, said: "We have been investing in Britain for more than 30 years now, but we know that there are still areas that either do not have an Aldi at all, or that need another store to meet customer demand.

"Shoppers are increasingly looking to get unbeatable prices on their weekly shop without compromising on quality.

"That's why, more so than ever, we're keen to explore all opportunities to open new stores across the country."