Shoppers were queuing for bargains at a budget supermarket this morning as the ribbon was snipped and its doors opened for the first time.

Sylvia Armes, Thetford's mayor, was on hand with the scissors to declare the new Lidl, on London Road, officially open.

There was coffee and cookies for customers as they took a first look at the 1,400 sqm store, which took 26 weeks to build.

The store's introduction has created 30 jobs, ten of which are full-time.

Gary Clifton, district manager for Lidl, said he was proud of the store's staff after they fitted it out in a matter of weeks.

'We took it over two weeks before opening and it was just a shell. We have had to put everything into it to fit it out and it's a mammoth task.

'We're really pleased to welcome people in today and we hope they'll appreciate what we have to offer,' he said.

Mrs Armes, who had a preview of the store before it opened, said she thought it was 'a good thing for Thetford'.

'It's much better than seeing empty shops and factory units and it can only be a good thing.

'It's brought employment and is close to the bypass so hopefully people from outside the town will come here and stick around to see what Thetford has to offer,' she said.

What do you think of the new store? Let us know in the comments below or by emailing andrew.fitchett@archant.co.uk