Schoolchildren were on hand to perform the official opening of the latest Midcounties Co-operative store to open in the county.

The group from St Thomas More Primary School cut the ribbon on the new store in Oxford Road which has created 16 jobs.

Store manager Donna Hunter said: “We are delighted with our new store and our opening day went very well.

“We are very much a community retailer so it is great to create new jobs, especially given it is International Year of Co-operatives which is all about working together to build a better community.

“As a co-operative business, which is owned by its members, we are looking forward to building links with the wider community.”

It is the second Co-op to to open its doors in Kidlington with the other being situated on the High Street.

Midcounties Co-operative spokesman Louise Evans added: “There was clearly a demand for another Co-op in the area and we aim to serve the needs of the local community as much as we can.”

The 1,400 sq ft retail space features an in-store bakery and hot food counter as well as a wide range of foods and convenience goods.

The Midcounties Co-operative is one of the biggest employers in Oxfordshire with more than 1,800 staff and an annual turnover of almost £605m.

The new store is open seven-days-a-week from 7am-10pm.

Pictured, from left (back), are society president, Patrick Gray, board members Donald Morrison, Sheila Allen, Membership Strategy Committee member Janet Warren, Head of Convenience Gary Graft, deputy manager Danny Stribling and Stephen Killick, duty manager. Front, Melissa Page,Thomas Murray (with giant scissors) and Ellie Walker, all aged seven.