SAINSBURYS has said it will open its first supermarket in Northern Ireland before Christmas, after securing planning permission for a development in Coleraine, Co Derry.

The Coleraine store is one of seven that Sainsburys plans to open in the North in a £100 million sterling investment programme announced by the British company last year. The development will have a sales area of 28,000 sq ft, and 500 car parking spaces.

Sainsburys regional property director, Mr Chris Fenner, he was delighted that work could now begin on the first of the company's stores planned for the North.