Cut-price food store Aldi is all set to take over part of the long-deserted Sainsbury's building in Pitsea.

The deal - which is expected to be sealed any day - will see the food company take over a third of the store.

The conditions of the move means the rest of the building, in Northlands Pavement, Pitsea, will be converted into indoor market by Charfleets.

Speculation has been rife for months over what the future might hold for the site. The popular supermarket served its last customers back in May when competition from nearby Tesco Extra proved too much.

Disabled groups and pensioners living in neighbouring homes were disgusted when the store closed, claiming they could not get to other supermarkets to do their shopping.

They have campaigned to have another food store in its place.

Bob Jamieson, chairman of the Basildon Coalition of Disabled People, said: "If this company does come in and serve the community it can only be good. This is the news we have been waiting to hear."

A planning application has now gone into Basildon Council from discount food store Aldi to alter the shop front on the empty Sainsbury's building.

Under the terms of the lease given to Sainsbury's by land owner London and Cambridge Properties, the rest of the site must be handed back and incorporated in plans to expand the market.

Market manager Frank Nash confirmed: "There does not seem to be the call for a food store of this size in the area.

"Aldi is expected to move into a third of the Sainsbury's building. We will then take over the rest and integrate it into the rest of the market. We will be looking to attract bigger stalls which work better under cover.

"It will not be a separate part of the market, we want it just to be an extension."

A major revamp of the market is being carried out with the old Co-Op being opened up as stalls.

The same will happen in the Sainsbury's building with the arrival of Aldi. The application has just been received by the council so no decision has yet been made.

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