A TOP Savoy chef is among the attractions at the new Monks Cross Sainsbury's store - as fashion guru Jeff Banks found out today.

Daniel Cartwright arrived in the new-look store today to be the in-house chef, on hand to give customers helpful cooking hints, recipe advice and one-to-one advice by appointment.

His is one of a number of new features at the store, which also includes a clothing range designed by Mr Banks.

The store has undergone a refurbishment and extension for the last 12 days, and now has 16,000 new products and an extra 120 new members of staff.

The new shopping experience does not end in the store. Daniel is also on-line and can give cooking advice via email at chef.monkscross@sainbury's.co.uk and will be ready to give meal solutions and help with culinary catastrophes.

The store is also trialling a new home range with more than 150 lines, including bed linen, lighting, cushions, prints, picture frames and soft furnishings.

Sainsbury's assistant managing director, Stuart Mitchell, said: "Over the last 12 months we have expanded our non-food offer with Jeff&Co clothing, cook-shop and our kids' sections and we are looking for this pilot to highlight another strong opportunity for growth."

Finally you can get your car checked and cleaned while you shop in the latest store link-up with the AA.

The new AA Checkpoint centre in the car park was launched today offering a five-point safety check, an internal valet, or an external car wash.

emma.harrison@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 11:46 Thursday, March 21, 2002