BUDGET store Wilko is on course to open in November, although no official date has been announced.

Earlier this year the Worcester News reported that Wilko Retail Ltd had signed a 10-year lease at a rent of £380,000 pa, on a 20,000 sq ft unit in the Cathedral Square complex.

The deal is the largest letting in the city centre in seven years with a spokesman saying the firm is "very committed" to Worcester.

This month though the retailer announced it had entered redundancy consultation with nearly 4,000 staff at existing stores, with the economic effects of Brexit blamed.

A spokesman for Wilko has confirmed that the consultation on the job roles will not affect recruitment plans for the store.

And a banner has been put up on the front of the store, which says it is opening soon and provides a Waitrose web address for anyone interested in applying for a job there.

The spokesman said: "The store is still due to open at the beginning of November.

"We are introducing a new, simplified retail team structure nationwide to ensure we are best placed to serve our customers for many years to come and the Cathedral Square store will be one of the first to have this new team structure in place when it opens.

"The simpler newly defined store structure will give teams greater variety within their roles and result in more team hours on the shop floor, delivering a better customer experience.

"We are very committed to Worcester and those who live here and look forward to welcoming customers to our new store when it opens for many years to come."