Tesco Express opens in Great Suffolk Street and Borough Road

Tesco presented the Southwark Disablement Association with a cheque for £500 to celebrate the opening of the Great Suffolk Street store which is located on the ground floor of the Unite student residence at the northern end of the street.

"I would like to thank Tesco for this generous donation, which will go towards supporting our volunteers who visit socially isolated disabled people and help them get to out into the community," says David Stock, chief executive of the SDA.

The Great Suffolk Street branch is the third Tesco Express store to open in SE1. A Premier Inn hotel is currently under construction next door.

The new shop is open daily from 7am to 11pm and has a cash machine, National Lottery counter and bakery.

Tesco opens two SE1 stores in one week

The chain's fourth local store – in Borough Road – is located opposite the main entrance to London South Bank University and opens on Friday 11 February.

15 people have been recruited to work in the Borough store. "I was thrilled by the response we received to our recruitment drive," says store manager Peter Tetteh.

"In this time of economic uncertainty, it is great that we are able to create jobs and help get people back into work.

"I am really pleased with my new team and I'm looking forward to working with my new staff. We are delighted to be opening a Tesco Express store in Borough and look forward to welcoming customers into the new store and we hope that Tesco will become a key part of the local community."

Staff at Borough Road are still deciding which local charity should benefit from a £500 donation to celebrate the opening of their store. The cheque will be presented at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10.30am on Friday.