Asda bosses have announced a further delay to the opening of their Tranent store.

They confirmed the delay earlier this week, and said they now hope to have the store, on High Street, ready to open for August 20.

News of a further delay comes just weeks after Alan Jones, senior property communications manager, attended a meeting of Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council (TECC), where he said the store would be ready to open by August 3.

And that seemed to be progressing, with the opening of the petrol station on Monday morning, allowing shoppers to use the click and collect online service.

An Asda spokesperson told the Courier: “The construction has taken slightly longer than expected as we continue to build the best store and offering we can for customers.” It is the latest setback to the planned store, which closed as a Co-op in early January.

Despite the delay, though, Asda is looking for a ‘local hero’ to officially open the store.

Heroes can be nominated by family, friends or work colleagues, and can be someone who constantly makes life better for people in the area, or someone who goes that extra mile for a particular cause or person.

Jason Clark, the store manager, said: “As the newest addition to Tranent, we will be tireless in our efforts to support the local area with our store offering and will be launching our community life initiative in the coming weeks.

“To prepare for this, we want to celebrate those individuals who are already playing their part and ensure a true local hero opens our store.” A donation of £50 will also be made to a local charity of the hero’s choice, while Mr Jones also confirmed to TECC members the store would be helping local groups in the community.

Nominations to open the store are open until next Friday (July 17), and can be sent by emailing asdapress office@havasww.com, or in writing to: Asda Tranent Local Hero, c/o Havas PR, 26 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh EH12 5AL.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Asda confirmed it will continue to operate a free bus service twice a week from Tranent to its store at The Jewel until the new county store is open.