Aldi welcomed its first customers into its new store in St Albans this morning.

The city's first and eagerly-awaited budget supermarket finally opened its doors to the public at 8am.

The store at the newly formed retail park on the site of a former gasworks in Griffiths Way, will be run by Caroline Gillings and her team of 50 colleagues from the local community.

Aldi says the new store will offer large chillers and freezers dedicated to fresh, British meat products, a 'Food to Go' section at the front of the store, a fixture along the back wall showcasing Aldi’s beers, wines and spirits, as well as a section full of health and beauty products.

St Albans & Harpenden Review: Aldi St AlbansAldi St Albans

St Albans & Harpenden Review: Aldi St AlbansAldi St Albans

Customers can also take a walk down the 'Aisle of Aldi', where they will find Specialbuys which are available every Thursday and Sunday.

During opening week, the store will be running its Baby and Toddler Event.

Store manager Caroline Gillings said: "It’s been a wonderful morning here at the opening of Aldi St Albans. It was lovely to welcome our new customers into store and I look forward to meeting more of the community in the coming weeks.

"I’d also like to thank our customers for following the social distancing guidelines we have in place to ensure the health and safety of both our customers and colleagues."

St Albans & Harpenden Review: Store manager Caroline Gillings at the grand opening of Aldi in St. Albans Store manager Caroline Gillings at the grand opening of Aldi in St. Albans

St Albans & Harpenden Review: Aldi St AlbansAldi St Albans

Aldi says its store is safe for shoppers to use to buy essential products they need.

This includes sanitisation stations on entry, perspex screens at its stills, and a traffic light system at the entrance.

The store is open Monday to Saturday 8am-10pm and on Sundays from 10am-4pm.

The Aldi store forms part of a new retail park in the south of the city, which also comprises a Costa Coffee drive-thru and B&Q.

St Albans & Harpenden Review: Staff at the new B&Q in St AlbansStaff at the new B&Q in St Albans