THIS picture taken from the air shows the progress being made on the construction of a new supermarket on the edge of Taunton.

Zoltán Csuzdi sent up his drone to capture the latest image of the Lidl store on a plot adjoining the Cades Farm roundabout.

Pre-construction work started back in June and the first customers are expected through the doors in the spring.

A Lidl spokesperswon said: "The new store is set to create around 40 new jobs and represents a multi-million pound investment, which will be fantastic for the local area,” said a spokesperson.

“We are extremely grateful for all the support that we have received so far and would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding whilst we enter this next phase of the development.”

The discount retailer was granted conditional planning permission for the store by Somerset West and Taunton Council in January following a lengthy application process.

Lidl was given the go ahead for a 2,098 square metre foodstore along with associated car park, landscaping and new vehicular access off Nynehead Road.

More than 500 people supported the application for the outlet at the corner of Nynehead Road and the B3187 Taunton Road.

There were 23 opponents, including Waitrose and Asda, who both have store sin the town, concerned about road safety issues and the impact the store could have on Wellington town centre.

But Lidl countered by saying customers from Wellington who travel to other towns to shop at its stores would now be able to do so locally, while there would also be a reduction in town centre traffic congestion.

The site where the Lidl supermarket is being built had been earmarked as employment land for Swallowfield and Relyon, although they more recently announced they did not wish to relocate there.

Meanwhile, Lidl, which already has two supermarkets in Taunton at Roman Road and Castle Street, is targeting several towns across Somerset to open new outlets.

It has opened dozens of new stores in the UK since the start of 2022 and is now looking for sites in North Taunton, Bridgwater, Cheddar, Frome, Shepton Mallet and Crewkerne.

A finder’s fee will be offered to members of the public who successfully identify suitable sites for new stores.

Check out Zoltán's video footage of the Lidl site HERE.