HOME Bargains is creating up to 40 new jobs with the opening of a £500,000 flagship store in Bury this weekend.

The Mayor of Bury, Cllr Joan Grimshaw, will cut a ribbon to officially open the store to shoppers at the Moorgate Retail Park on Saturday at 8.30am.

The top brand, bottom price retailer’s new store will replace the former MFI unit, next to Carpetright.

The new store will be the third to open in the area, and the 20th Home Bargains to open in Lancashire — joining more than 300 in the UK.

With plans to open another 50 stores throughout the country over the next 12 months, the discount retailer is bucking current trends in the industry.

Joe Morris, operations director at Home Bargains, said: “We’re excited to be opening our new Bury store and look forward to welcoming customers. Moorgate Retail Park will be a great location for us.”

The 20,000 sq ft flagship store will sell a selection of homewares and other goods, including health and beauty, household, sweets, snacks, drinks and alcohol.

TJ Morris Ltd, which trades as Home Bargains, was established more than 30 years ago, opening its first store in Liverpool. The family-owned and run company is one of the largest based on Merseyside.

The discount retailer attracts more than three million customers each week, and has an e-commerce website, so customers can shop online.