A SUPERMARKET giant is expecting to create up to 20 jobs with the opening of a new store in central York.

Work is scheduled to start in June on transforming the Piccadilly site currently occupied by the British Heart Foundation’s furniture and electrical shop into a Tesco outlet.

The company plans to open the store, which would be its second branch in the city centre, by Christmas and hopes it will have roles for between 16 and 20 people in full and part-time positions.

The British Heart Foundation shop is expected to move to new premises in the city, although their location has yet to be confirmed, after the charity’s lease on the site comes to an end.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: “We can confirm work is due to start on the store on June 4 and we hope the store will be open before Christmas.”

Once the Piccadilly outlet opens its doors, it will give Tesco two York branches within five minutes’ walk of each other after the chain opened a Tesco Express shop in Low Ousegate last year, replacing the former Old Orleans bar and restaurant.

The firm has said the two stores are intended to cater for different sections of the market and complement each other, with the Low Ousegate branch picking up city centre trade while the Piccadilly outlet will concentrate on attracting customers from nearby residential areas.

When Tesco’s interest in the site was first revealed last year, the British Heart Foundation said it was “disappointed” to be moving out of the premises it has occupied since 2008, but the charity was unable to match the levels of rent major businesses were prepared to pay for a city centre location.

However, the furniture and electrical store will continue to trade in Piccadilly ahead of the start of work on creating the Tesco branch.