Charlton's new M&S store opened today, promising around 125 new jobs for the area.

The 67,000 sq ft Gallions Way store comes hot on the heels of the new Sainsbury's supermarket beside Woolwich Road.

It stocks clothing, food and drink, has its own in-store bakery, a 190-seat cafe plus free car parking.

As part of the recruitment process, M&S says it has been working with charities like The Prince’s Trust, Gingerbread and Remploy, to provide job opportunities to locals.

Speaking ahead of the opening, store manager Ken Holdway said: "It will be fantastic to finally welcome customers into the store and show them what we’ve been working on for the past few months. 

"We’ve been inundated with applications and we’re delighted to have been able to recruit such a large number of people from the local area."

The opening comes after the company shut its 100-year old outlet store in Powis Street, Woolwich, last September.