Building work is “progressing well” ahead of Aldi’s opening in Tranent later this year.

Work started on the site, formerly the Tranmare Hotel, in early April, and progresss is steadily being made, with the building’s shell now being put up.

A spokesperson for Aldi told the Courier that “work on site is progressing well and is on schedule”, meaning that the supermarket – which will be one of Aldi’s biggest in Scotland – should be open before Christmas this year.

Representatives of the supermarket chain previously told Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council (TECC) that the supermarket would be open in “early 2016”, but they subsequently brought their target forward, later telling the Courier that they hoped the store would be open “before Christmas 2015”.

Meanwhile, work at the new Asda supermarket on High Street is ongoing, as bosses insist they will be open on August 20.

The store, which will replace the Co-op supermarket there that closed earlier this year, has been twice-delayed already.

Previously, 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.” Helen Spencer, vice-chairwoman of TECC, hoped to see both supermarkets open soon.

She told the Courier: “I know the majority of people in Tranent and the surrounding villages miss having a supermarket in the town and are looking forward to both the Asda and Aldi opening soon. It is a shame there have been delays with the Asda supermarket as we were originally hoping it would be open by the end of July.

“It’s particularly difficult for the local residents who used the old Co-op as their main grocery store, especially the elderly and those who find it hard to get about or don’t have their own transport, as it has meant they have been without this facility for such a long time now.

“Hopefully the store will be open by August 20.” Local residents have expressed their concerns over the delays with the store opening, despite the launch of the petrol station two weeks ago.

On TECC’s Facebook page, Carolyn McGimpsey, who lives locally, said: “They didn’t happen to mention what year they were opening? At this rate Aldi will be open before Asda”, and Steve Byrne added: “I wonder if the August 20 revised date is also optimistic.” Meanwhile, the deadline for the Local Hero nominations run by Asda – for someone to open the new store – closed last Friday.