SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has started recruiting for 650 jobs at its home delivery centre in Erith which will "inject new life into the community".

The retailer is due to open the Erith Dotcom store in Church Manorway on October 21.

Tesco has vowed to offer more than 100 of the vacancies to local people who have been out of work for more than six months.

Erith and Thamesmead MP Teresa Pearce welcomed the move, saying: “The creation of 650 jobs will inject new life into the community after what has been a very difficult few years.

“The Tesco Regeneration Partnership Programme is an excellent way to incentivise people to apply for vacancies after experiencing long-term unemployment.”

The full and part time jobs will include personal shoppers, team managers, drivers and support personnel.

Leader of Bexley Council, Teresa O'Neill, said: “I am delighted that Tesco has chosen to build its centre in Erith, bringing new investment and jobs to the borough.

“We’ve worked closely with Tesco to make sure that as many as possible of the jobs at the centre go to local people.

“Our Resources Plus service will be working to give local people the best possible chance of filling the vacancies, which will mean that the local community gets the maximum possible benefit from the company’s investment.”

Click here and search Erith to apply for a job.