POLISH arrivals to York will soon be able to get advice at a new shop as the city's eastern European population continues to grow.

A new store set to open in the city will stock Polish food and other delicacies, while also offering support to the burgeoning population of Poles.

There are now thought to be about 1,000 Polish people in the city, with some estimating that up to 3,000 are living in the area.

The shop planned for Walmgate follows news that Clifton Moor-based cash-and-carry Booker Wholesale, in Audax Road, has devoted an entire aisle to eastern European foods to meet demand from corner shops.

Bogdan Bednarczyk, 25, launched his PL Shop, in Selby, last November and hopes to open the York store next month.

He said: "We will be offering everything for the Polish population.

"In our Selby shop, we had a welcome pack in the Polish language about how to live, how to rent a house and how to get insurance. When they first come into England and try to live and work in York, they can find out what they need to do with doctors, tax and National Insurance."

Mr Bednarczyk has lived in the UK for four years and runs his shop while also working part-time at Greencore Grocery, in Selby.

He said he hopes more British people will try eastern European delicacies.

He said: "It is quite a difficult market because most of our customers are Polish. Hopefully, the number of customers will grow. We are getting more people interested in the Polish food and alcohol, and it is going well.

"Quite a lot of people were going to London to buy a few things. Now, in Selby, I have got people coming to the shop from York and further afield. It seems people want that food."

Mariola Debowska, who runs Planet Language Services, in Selby, with her English husband, Dave Beech, said the shop would be good for Polish residents.

She said: "Normally, people arrive here and they are a bit homesick. It is good for them to get different foods they can't get in England.

It is different food and some people are very used to their own food. Some people want Polish sausages and bread.

"It is nice to have a centre where people can meet and talk and find out information."