MORE than 80 new jobs will be created when a new Wilkinson store opens in Medway.

The company is currently fitting out 11,000 sq ft premises in Rainham Shopping Centre ready for opening in March or April.

It will be one of 55 new stores opened by Wilkinson next year as it pushes ahead with a major expansion programme.

This will be the company’s second Medway store - it already has a two-storey shop in the Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham.

A spokesman for Wilkinson said they could not be exact about the number of jobs at the Rainham store. “It will be between 80 and 100 but it is difficult to tell at the moment and some of those jobs will be temporary.”

The opening is likely to be celebrated with a family fun day at the store.

Manager Simon Hollingsworth said: “We are delighted to be able to bring Wilkinson value for money family shopping to Rainham and very much look forward to welcoming new customers to our store.”

Wilkinson was founded in 1930 and is known for low prices on its 25,000 product lines including household goods, DIY materials and clothing.