DOZENS of people queued up for the opening of a new Spar shop – and grabbed themselves a free chicken while they there.

Franchisee Baz Jethwa and wife Dhara were all smiles as the ribbon was cut do declare the shop, in Campbell Street, Farnworth, officially open.

Eager customers filed into the shop from noon and the first 50 through the tills were given free fresh chicken.

Previously run as a Costcutter store by Mr Jethwa it has been given something of a makeover with wider aisles, better lighting and improved disabled access.

And there is also more of an emphasis on fresh food.

Mr Jethwa said he was excited about the future of the store after switching to Spar.

He said: “Our business has changed over the years, we have targeted more fresh food and we needed to be with the right wholesale, which is obviously Spar—we need to give customers what they want and have the right products on the shelves.

“They have a good family ethic behind then because they are a family business, and so are we, so it works really

And Mr Jethwa, who also runs Spars in Plodder Lane and Breightmet, said he was delighted with the number of people who had come along for the opening.

He said: “It’s been a good turn out, we’ve had a good few queues, there were about 50 in queue, I was pleased with that.”

Customers’ first impressions of their new convenience store were overwhelmingly positive.

Mum-of-two Jenny Heap, aged 32, had come along with daughters Abigail, aged, 6 and Ava, aged sic months.

She said: “It’s good, there’s a lot more variety now, - and added extras like getting a free chicken!

“It is better, especially for the baby as well, they sell baby food sachets now. It’s just what you need when you live just round the corner.”

And Kim Howarth said: “It’s good. The food seems a lot better, the breads are a lot better than they were.”

Ms Howarth, aged 46, also said she also liked the staff at the store, who have been retained from the Costcutter days.

“Some of the old staff have come back, which is nice, the staff are nice, which is what makes you come back.”