Up to 140 jobs could be created when a supermarket giant opens a new non-food store in an Aireborough retail park, it has been revealed.

American-owned Asda is expected to move onto the site of the old Focus Do It All store in the West Side retail park in Guiseley, according to a letter on behalf of the firm which owns the park.

The letter says about 140 jobs could be created when the store opens.

Last night, a councillor said he was delighted by the news and, added to the transformation of the Harry Ramsden’s restaurant in White Cross into a Wetherby Whaler outlet, it was a huge boost to the area.

Coun Graham Latty, who represents the Guiseley and Rawdon ward on Leeds City Council, said: “I’m delighted. If it turns out to be the case there are 140 new jobs, we would really welcome that.

“You couldn’t say Guiseley and Rawdon has high unemployment and we’re more than happy for that to continue.

“We’ve got 40 jobs at the Wetherby Whaler a new Aldi supermarket planned on the car park opposite and then these jobs. The signs are that things are really improving.”

Details about the Asda plans were revealed in a planning application for permission to sell food from a concession unit, believed to be a Cafe Ritazza, from within the proposed new Asda store.

The food outlet would take up 165 square metres of the store as a second unit, but would not operate out of the store’s trading hours.

See more in the Wharfedale Observer.