A HUGE new M&S food store being built in Rayleigh will not open until early next year.

The new Marks and Spencer store is replacing the former Co- Op supermarket, in Eastwood Road.

However, it emerged asbestos has been found in the building, which is now being removed.

M&S has denied the discovery has delayed the opening of the store, but it does mean Rayleigh is without a town centre supermarket until next year.

A spokesman for Marks and Spencer said: “We always planned to open next year and we are on track to do so.

“The management of asbestos is very common in dealing with buildings built before the Nineties. It has not affected the launch date.”

Carl Watson, president of Rayleigh Chamber of Trade, is disappointed the store won’t be open sooner.

He said: “Asbestos is a very serious problem and needs to be treated. It is a shame it’s not going to open until then.

“I have heard rumours about this for a while, but it’s just good news that the store is going ahead and that they will still be coming to the town.

“I think there was a case of asbestos in the High Street years ago, but the store Marks and Spencer is taking over has been a supermarket for years and never had a revamp, it’s a very old building.”

Michelle Toon, a resident, who used to work in the building when it was Co-op, said: “I am looking forward to seeing the changes from Co-Op to Marks and Spencer.

" I think it’s a bit too long to wait for a proper food shop to open as there is hardly any big ones in High Street!

“Let’s hope it will be worth the wait and all the travelling that all the staff have to do while waiting for this one to open up!”

The closure of the Co-Op was followed by the departure of a small Morrisons local store.

The new town centre M&S will be the second to move to Rayleigh as the food giant is also building a smaller store as part of the Grange petrol station, in London Road.