HUNDREDS of excited shoppers got their first glimpse inside Bolton’s newest supermarket when it opened its doors yesterday.

German retail giant Aldi opened its store in Breightmet at 8am with the help of Breightmet Wanderers’ under-eights team.

The youngsters cut the ribbon while showing off their new Aldi-branded kits, after store bosses offered to sponsor the team.

The store, in Breightmet Fold Lane, will also be donating a range of products to the Castle Hill Young People’s Centre, to support its community activities.

Suzanne Eldred, the store’s manager, said: “It was a great morning and we have thoroughly enjoyed meeting members of the local community.

“We’d like to say a big thank you to Breightmet Wanderers for coming along to support us this morning and the team and I wish them all the luck in the world this season.”

Elaine Dolan, Breightmet Wanderers’ founder and secretary, said: “Aldi got in touch with us because they wanted to sponsor a young football team in the area, and we decided that our under-eights would be a good choice.

“The new kits look lovely and the children were really happy to be invited down to cut the ribbon.

“They were very excitable and everyone was taking pictures of them through the window. Aldi were very good and gave them some sweets and balloons as a thank you.”

The store has been built on the site of the former Mecca Bingo Breightmet, and joins new retail units including a Poundworld Plus, which opened last week.

Its opening marks the latest significant investment by Aldi in Bolton, following the creation a new distribution hub, store and academy at the Logistics North development in Over Hulton and plans for another store in Westhoughton.