BLANDFORD'S former Safeway will reopen as a Morrisons in November.

The food giant says 150 jobs will be generated with the store offering a butchery, bakery, fishmonger, and groceries at the prices found in Morrisons superstores.

Property director Roger Owen told a meeting held by Blandford's chamber of trade that the group did not intend its new venture to be a "top-up shop" for the Tesco store at Blandford St Mary.

"We're hoping very much that it will be a success. We hope it will be another string to our bow and another chapter in the company's future," said Mr Owen.

Alcohol would only be sold to over-25s and only during general opening hours, said Mr Owen, allaying fears that the firm's 11pm licence application would see late-night drink sales.

Senior management will be brought in from existing stores, with other staff recruited locally, said Mr Owen.

A history of promotion had already been established, he said, adding that the manager of the company's Weymouth store was from Blandford.

Cllr Joe Hickish, the district councillor for Blandford's Old Town ward, told the Daily Echo he had been very pleased by what he had heard from Mr Owen.

"I'm really looking forward to the opening. Morrisons is pretty ethical by all accounts and their structure and history shows some submersion in the local environment," he said.