BARGAIN hunters checked out the opening of a new discount store.

Choice opened its Home Outlet Clearance Store, in Stadium Way, near Rayleigh Weir, yesterday in the former Comet store.

Prices were slashed by 70 per cent for the big opening of the store, which boosts 10,000sq ft of discount furniture and homeware retail space.

Choice managing director Con Donovan said the company was selling so much furniture in its other stores in Hadleigh, Basildon, Wickford and Grays that it made sense to expand.

He said: “Without our customers and their support, we could never have achieved the success we have.

“We feel as a company continuing to offer excellent quality goods at discounted prices is a way of paying our customers back.

“The real pleasure for us and the family is knowing that, at this present time, we employ more than 500 people, without whom we could never have achieved what we now have.

“I hope people will be pleased with our prices and we hope to please our customers much more as we have done in previous years, offering goods at fantastic prices.”

The new home outlet store will be open every day and will sell furniture, sofas, lighting, canvas and framed pictures, mirrors, paint, wallpaper, garden furniture, hardware, mattresses and beds.

Mr Donovan said the Essexbased company was enjoying success, despite fears over the wider economy.

He added: “It gives the company great satisfaction in these troubled times we are still employing people and it makes us feel extremely proud.

“Our intention is to continue bringing in more ranges of goods.

“The popularity of our current line of home goods has enabled us to open this furniture outlet in Stadium Way.”