by David Jones and Jess Banham

djones@thekmgroup.co.uk

A new superstore has been flooded with applications for staff - with more than 1,000 jobseekers applying to its Canterbury store in just a few days.

The Waitrose at St George's Place in Canterbury has 208 positions on offer, but the store has has 1,176 applications.

That is more than five applicants for every position - and all within a week of advertising the role on its website.

Branch manager David Lane said: "We have been overwhelmed by the volume and calibre of applications and I am really looking forward to working alongside what will inevitably be a fantastic team and providing more choice and unbeatable service for customers in Canterbury.

"The coming weeks will be very exciting as the shop continues its transformation and the new Partners undergo their training in preparation for the opening day."

Construction work on the new store began in the spring and it is set to open on Thursday, October 6.

Meanwhile, Waitrose is to create around 50 jobs when it opens another new store at Kings Hill, West Malling, later this year.

The 9,000 sq ft store will be in Liberty Square on the wartime RAF airfield, which is now home to about 6,500 residents and more than 100 businesses employing some 5,000 people.

The new store, scheduled to open in time for Christmas, will be next to the former RAF control tower, now a listed building. It has been designed in art deco-style to reflect the iconic architecture of the tower.

A Waitrose spokesman said staff for the new store would be recruited locally through the company's website, www.waitrosejobs.com . All new employees will become Partners in the John Lewis Partnership and have a say in how the company is run.