Budget supermarket Lidl has announced it hopes to open its new store in Watford by the end of this year.

Permission was granted last year for Lidl to build a branch in Lower High Street, on the former Gas Holder site, by Waterfields Way.

Alongside Lidl will be 92 apartments and offices, with the offices encompassing Grade II listed Frogmore House.

Building of the supermarket has begun and is expected to take around nine months to build. The new store will create 40 jobs.

The chain already operates 730 stores in the UK, including in Borehamwood, Pinner, and Stanmore.

An aerial view of the site. Pinpointed is Frogmore House

Lidl UK’s regional head of property, Olu Johnson, said: “There’s been much anticipation for this new Lidl store and it’s great that we are now in a position to break the ground and start the build.

“We are extremely grateful for all the support that we have received so far, and would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding whilst we enter this next phase of the development.”