THE first of many stores planned for Northern Ireland by the UK retail giants, Tesco and Sainsbury, has opened in the centre of Belfast.

Tesco's 13,000 square foot Metro supermarket, which is in the converted premises of the former Provincial Bank in Royal Avenue, attracted huge crowds when it opened its doors for the first time last week.

The store, which has 27 checkouts, employs around 180 people, including part time staff. The listed building dates back to 1863, and the company has restored its dome and the main staircase. Tesco is also planning to open stores in Lisburn and east Belfast.

Meanwhile, Sainsbury, whose first store is due to open in Ballymena in three weeks time, has signed a deal to buy a seven acre site in the Belfast Harbour estate for the development of a £65 million supermarket and filling station.

In a statement, Sainsbury confirmed that contracts have been exchanged on the 7.75 acre site, but said that the purchase was ultimately dependent on planning consent being granted following a public inquiry due to begin in Belfast next month.

In Derry, another prominent UK retailer, the Sears Group, is to put plans for a £30 million retail and leisure development on show to the public next week. The company is applying for outline planning permission to develop a 50 acre retail site at Crescent Link in the Waterside area of the city.

The development will include a retail warehousing outlet, leisure facilities, housing, travel accommodation, and neighbourhood shopping facilities.