SHOPPERS are being promised that Witney's bigger Sainsbury's store will be ready to open next week.

But the supermarket, in Witan Way, will close from tomorrow for a week, so that work can be finished on its new extension.

Managers were given the go-ahead last July to almost double the size of the store, by building a 1,440 sqm single-storey extension.

It was hoped by Sainsbury's at the time that the bigger shop could open by Christmas 2005, but managers said a 'phased approach' had been taken to work, so that the store could remain in operation throughout most of the redevelopment project.

Store manager, Mike Hawker, said the closure from tomorrow was necessary to allow final touches and preparations to be made.

He said the store and its new shopping area would reopen at 9am next Thursday, September 7, and include a whole new department, with 'food to go', adult and children's clothing and electrical goods, new pharmacy for people to pick up prescriptions, improved caf, and wider aisles.

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