A CONVENIENCE store that has already doubled its staff says it could create up to 20 jobs near Builth Wells.

Retailer Tuffins bought the former Heart of Wales petrol station in Station Road, Llanelwedd in November.

Harry Delves, of the family run firm, said: "We took the business on in November and started recruiting straight away. We took four staff on and doubled the staff straight away."

It is now intended to expand the convenience store into existing unused space at the forecourt site before further developing the shop into a supermarket.

It is hoped the expanded convenience store could be up and running by March or April before the supermarket .

It is also planned to open a garden centre and a franchise of American sandwich shop Subway at the site.

"We would hope to create at least 20 jobs if not even more."

Tuffins is owned by Delves & Co which was formed by Harry’s father Paul in 2013. He had previously been the managing director of Harry Tuffins Limited.

The independent owned supermarket group, that had 10 stores across Mid Wales including at Knighton, was sold to the Coop in 2012 by Harry’s grandparents.

However its store at Craven Arms in Shropshire was deemed by competition chiefs to be too close to another Coop store, prompting Paul to form Delves & Co. The shop at Llanelwedd is its first venture outside of Craven Arms.

"We are now essentially a fourth generation family business who are looking to grow our business again. The store in Builth Wells we have purchased is the first store we have developed outside Craven Arms," said Harry.

Work to redevelop the site, which includes a car showroom and garage workshop, will require planning permission.