DEMOLITION work on the old Tesco supermarket in Yate has begun in earnest.

Diggers started flattening the 36-year-old buildings today in preparation for a new, much bigger Tesco Extra store.

Major changes are also being made to the layout of the car park within Yate Shopping Centre, including a new thoroughfare for pedestrians. Additional car parking spaces are also being created around a temporary Tesco store which has opened while the new supermarket is constructed.

Yate Shopping Centre manager Andrew Lowrey said: "This month is one of the most critical in the development programme and we are doing our best to ensure shoppers and traders can still go about their business with the minimum of disruption.

"Once we get through this period of reorganisation on the site, things will stabilise. There will be over 700 car parking spaces available in the centre and in the overflow car park. However, we are also encouraging visitors to use public transport wherever possible.

"These are not going to be easy times, however we are working closely with the contractors and Tesco to ensure that the development period runs as smoothly as possible."

He added: "The key message is that Yate Shopping Centre is still very much open and we will be holding events and promotions throughout the year to encourage visitors to the centre."

The new Tesco Extra store is scheduled to open in the autumn.