ASDA's multi-million-pound superstore in Hereford is alive and thriving.

It has no intention of closing its new retail premises near the Belmont roundabout, nor turning them into a distribution depot.

These categoric assurances came from manager Dave Copner, countering a new round of rumours about the future of the Asda store.

He said the rumours and idle gossip were frustrating for him and upsetting for his store colleagues, who depended upon Asda for their livelihoods.

"We have invested a great deal of money here in Hereford, and we are here to stay," promised Dave.

The manager said that in January, the store had 21,000 customers a week. In May, it had grown to 35,000.

"That is very good progress and does not indicate that we are closing down," he added.

The manager said work colleagues "came and went" but Asda had not made any redundancies and now employed nearly 400 full and part-time workers.

And it was hoping to create another 30 jobs when the store started a home shopping service in the near future.

Dave reported the community centre next to the store was up and running, a dental surgery would open soon and the company had plans to become very involved in the local community.

The manager said Asda had a massive car park which was hard to fill, perhaps giving people the wrong impression over its trading. But Hereford was growing and with more customers, the store was well set for the future.

"I am very proud of the store and of my colleagues. I am very happy with our progress and the future is bright," said Dave.