Tesco has opened a new store at the Five Valleys shopping centre in Stroud.

As well as providing a wide range of affordable, healthy and sustainable food the Merrywalks Express, which opened its doors on Saturday, February 24, will also have a positive impact on the local community through its community programmes including the newly launched Stronger Start grant scheme which funds schools and children's groups providing grants for food and activities to boost health and wellbeing.

Supporting the local community is important to Tesco and over the last five years, the supermarket's customers have helped to donate over £100 million to more than 50,000 good causes through its Stronger Starts blue token voting scheme.

Tesco Stroud Merrywalks is supporting the Rosary Catholic Primary School with their breakfast club programme, a free service run by volunteers to support families in need that offers additional support for those children with English as a second language.

Given the pressures on household budgets, Tesco remains committed to providing value for customers looking to save money on their food shop.

Zoe Arkwell, store manager at Tesco Stroud Merrywalks, said: "We are extremely excited to be opening our new store and helping to serve the local community. We want to continue to offer great value to our customers with a wide product range and the benefits of Tesco Clubcard and Clubcard pricing to our customers.

"We have 19 new colleagues joining the team from the local area and we know that local knowledge and experience will be so important as we look to build connections and play our part in the community."

James Shepherd, managing director of Dransfield Properties who owns and manages the shopping centre, said: "We are delighted to be working with Tesco and welcoming them to our scheme in Stroud providing a new convenience offer and several local employment opportunities for the area."