The new Kingsteignton Lidl store – which has created 20 new jobs – was set to open its doors to the public yesterday after a six-month construction project.

On Wednesday, about 150 people attended a reception for civic leaders and neighbours hosted by the store to show what it had to offer.

Mayor Cllr Mike Walters was among the guests.

He told the Advertiser: 'it is an interesting development and may provide competition for other major retailers.

'In Torbay, the Lidl store has proved very popular and this could well be equally so.'

Lidl – the new store has cost a seven-figure sum – came in for praise when developing the former CR Willcocks site in Newton Road.

There were fears that the only vehicular access to Oakford Lawn, the venue for the town's historic ram roasting fair, could be lost in the project.

But Lidl said it was happy to work with the community and agreed to modify its plans accordingly.