ALMOST half of the jobs at the new Waitrose store will be offered to employees of the supermarket chain in Kidderminster.

Droitwich Spa town councillor John Cook (Lab-West) has expressed concerns that many of the 200 new jobs created by the store will go to current staff from Kidderminster.

The 35-year-old Kidderminster branch will shut in July, after company bosses decided it 'does not offer the kind of shopping environment customers would expect from Waitrose'.

All of the 75 staff will, this week, be offered a transfer to the new Droitwich branch, which is currently under construction off the High Street.

Cllr Cook said: "I accept the fact that some of the other staff from Kidderminster will have to come over to Droitwich.

"But I hope that they will make sure there are enough jobs for the people of Droitwich. I am fully aware that there are a number of people interested in working at the store."

Cllr Cook said residents were keen to work for Waitrose because it had a good reputation for its treatment of staff.

Waitrose spokeswoman Gill Smith confirmed the Kidderminster staff would be offered positions in Droitwich.

"How many of these people will take up the offer we do not know," she said.

"We hope to have more of an indication of this in the next few days. However, some people may not be willing to travel over to Droitwich."

She added that some of the staff might also be offered transfers to the branch in Stourbridge.

"The new Droitwich branch will offer a modern shopping experience with a large number of new services."