A NEW mini market has opened its doors at the site of a former bank in a town centre.

‘Super Fresh’, which is selling European foods and has a deli with an off-licence, opened recently in Manchester Road, Nelson.

It is based at the old HSBC building which closed in 2016, with the high street banking giant blaming the closure on more customers turning to online banking.

The building had lain vacant following the closure until plans for the mini market come to fruition.

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, who represents the area on Pendle Council, welcomed the opening of the new mini market which he said would cater for a gap in the Eastern European market.

He said: “There is quite a large Eastern European community in Pendle.

“So there’s clearly a gap in the market which has been identified here and I believe it will sell Eastern European foods.

“It’s something I welcome as an investment into an iconic building in the town centre.

“The most important thing is the architecture of the building such as its ceiling hasn’t been changed by the mini market.”

He added: “From what I’ve seen it’s doing really well and is busy and I wish the new owners all the best. “

Applicant Hussain Hussain has previously said in planning documents: “The development will be used for a European foods supermarket and deli with off licence, and is an appropriate use of the retail space, given its position in a mixed retail zone with very few shops offering similar goods nearby.

“The nearest shop with similar range of goods is 24 Scotland Road, 500 metres away.”

Opening hours for the new mini market are 5am to 11pm every day.

Two new part-time and two new full-time jobs have also been created from the new mini market.