Retail giant Marks & Spencer is opening its new Skipton store on Tuesday December 4.

The Simply Food store, in Thanet's Yard, will create 80 jobs in the town and will be one of 280 M&S food outlets in the UK.

Store manager Lisa Benyon said: "It's great to be opening a new Simply Food store in Skipton, providing customers with the very best of M&S food and drink in such a convenient location.

"We have many dedicated customers in the area and hope our quality products, combined with extended opening hours, will be a big hit with them."

One of the founders of Marks & Spencer Thomas Spencer hails from Skipton.

* £500 worth of Marks & Spencer vouchers up for grabs - see tomorrow's Craven Herald.