DISCOUNT supermarket Aldi is looking at opening stores in Taunton and Wellington in the near future.

The discount food retailer announced this week that it intends to expand into Taunton Deane.

A company spokesman said the company aims to build "a number of stores" in the district "over the coming years".

If it succeeded in setting up ion both towns, the investment by the firm would be in the region of up to £10million and around 80 full and part-time jobs would be created.

The spokesperson added: "We are in the process of a UKwide expansion, aiming to bring 1,000 stores and 35,000 jobs by 2022.

"We are conscious that Taunton Deane currently does not have an Aldi store within its boundaries and we are excited about the prospect of investing in the authority over the coming years.

“We are currently searching for sites that would be suitable to accommodate an Aldi store.

"We feel that Taunton Deane has a lot to offer and a great deal of potential through the current and planned future regeneration being driven by the council.”

Bosses at Aldi, whose nearest store is in Bridgwater, have already met with Taunton Deane Council representatives to talk about potential sites.

The spokesman said the firm does not use zero hour contracts and will pay all employees a salary of at least £8.40 from February - "above the National Living Wage and the rate paid by its competitors".

Cllr John Williams, leader of Taunton Deane Council, said: “We were very pleased to meet with Aldi representatives recently and hear of their exciting plans for Taunton Deane, which involve opening a number of their stores locally.

"This is an opportunity to fill a distinct gap in the market as I am often asked by residents, 'When we will be getting an Aldi shop?'

"We were delighted to hear about the planned investment due and welcome this to Taunton Deane.

"Aldi told us it is the level of economic growth happening in Taunton that has encouraged them to pursue a long held ambition to invest in premises locally.”

There is speculation that Waitrose could open a store on the currently derelict Firepool site in Taunton.

Lidl opened a new store in Tangier last week after closing its former premises in Wood Street, while it also has a supermarket in Roman Road.

Other food retailers with a presence in the county town include Tesco, which has a main store and a number of smaller Tesco Express outlets, Asda, Sainsbury's, which has shops in the town centre and on the Riverside retail park, Morrisons and the Co-op.

Waitrose, Asda and the Co-op have supermarkets in Wellington.