ASDA is to open a mini store at a petrol filling station in Taunton.

The Asda Express convenience shop is expected to welcome its first customers at some stage before the end of March next year, although a firm date has not yet been announced.

The outlet at the Shell garage in Priory Bridge Road will stock hundreds of branded and own-label products including ‘top up’ essential items such as milk and bread, and people will be able to grab lunch on the go or buy items to cook dinner from scratch.

An Asda spokesperson said: “We’re incredibly excited to be bringing our Asda value and quality to the Taunton community with the conversion of the shop site.

"The roll out marks an incredibly exciting moment for our business and accelerates our presence in the fast-growing convenience market.”

An application for a premises licence for the Asda Express shop has been submitted to Somerset Council.

Asda is seeking to win permission to serve alcohol 24 hours a day, seven days a week and to sell late-night refreshment between 11pm and 5am every day.

The plans for the new shop follow Asda's £2.07billion acquisition earlier this year of EG (Euro Garages Ltd) Group's business, including 356 convenience stores nationwide.

You can comment on the licence application on Somerset Council's website by going to the 'object to a licence application' section.