TWO new convenience stores will open within a few hundred yards of each other in Westhoughton, creating around 30 new jobs.

An office building and bungalow at the former RH Auto and Sons car showroom in Manchester Road will be demolished to make way for a Tesco Express with 19 parking spaces.

The store will employ around 25 people and include six check-outs. It will open from 7am until 11pm.

Bolton Council's planning and highways committee also approved a Spar shop at the Mercury service station in Manchester Road. The 24-hour petrol station will be rebuilt and modernised as part of the plan and the number of people employed at the site could double from five to ten.

Councillors approved both applications, despite objections.

Local businesses submitted a 379 signature petition against the Tesco Express, fearing they could lose trade.

David Bridge, who owns the nearby Here to Please You convenience store, called on councillors to reject the Tesco application.

He said the extra traffic would put the safety of drivers and pedestrians at risk near the busy junction with Bolton Road, a sentiment also echoed in four letters of objection to the scheme.

Masqud Patel, owner of the Mercury filling station, also objected to the Tesco plan. He fears his own new shop may not now attract as much business.

But Westhoughton town councillor Andy Morgan told the committee that the road was wide enough for cars to turn safely into the site.

He said: "I do not believe this will impact on town centre businesses or the Co-op there, but I do think this will be of benefit to residents."

Cllr David Wilkinson, Westhoughton South ward member, said that competition for other stores was not a planning issue.

He added: "It means people will be able to shop locally without making car journeys elsewhere."

Councillors gave the store their approval on the understanding that CCTV would be installed covering the car park and an ATM machine included in the plans.

The Spar scheme had attracted four letters of objection, citing concerns over traffic, noise from the car wash and drainage problems. But it was also backed by Cllr Wilkinson on the condition that the site was designed to avert drainage problems and acoustic fencing was included to muffle noise from the car wash.