WORK has got underway towards building a new supermarket in Worcester - with Lidl saying it cannot wait to greet shoppers.

Contractors working on behalf of the budget store have started preparations for the new outlet off Windermere Drive in Warndon, just two months after Worcester City Council gave it the nod.

A large metal fence has been erected around the grassed area opposite the Archdale Club's clubhouse, with some digging up already taking place ahead of the mammoth effort ahead.

Under the plans the existing clubhouse will be demolished to make way for a 2,400 square foot supermarket.

In return a new community centre featuring a bar, lounge, top-notch skittle room and hall alongside an adult football pitch and changing rooms will be constructed.

Lidl says the efforts will be stepped up in the spring, with the current work based around investigating the site before preparations start to demolish the clubhouse.

A spokesman said: "Routine site investigations are currently taking place on Windermere Drive before work is due to begin in spring.

"We are incredibly excited to bring this Lidl to Worcester and thank the local residents for their continued support."

Councillor Geoff Williams, who chairs the city council's planning committee which approved the work and also represents the area, said: "I'm very pleased things have got underway as there was a fair degree of support for the scheme.

"It's great news in terms of maintaining that shopping choice and of course, it'll also lead to better facilities for the community.

"I welcome it."

There will be 30 staff on the site, 10 more than the current Lidl on Blackpole Retail Park, which as your Worcester News revealed last year will close once the new site opens.

It will come with 134 parking spaces and the new-look supermarket will lead to a raft of tree planting to improve the landscape.

During the run-up to the city council approval 254 people signed a petition backing the development.

Lidl is aiming to get the new site fully finished and open during the summer.

It comes nearly a decade after Sainsbury's first unveiled proposals to develop a massive supermarket on the same site.

After mooching the plan in 2005, it eventually secured permission in 2009, but in the end decided to stay at its current location just 500 yards down the road in Windermere Drive.