The foodhall at Fairacres Retail Park is expected to open later this month and contractors said they hoped it would open by April 27.

Building work is continuing outside the former Homebase retail unit, and new white signs showing the ‘M&S Abingdon’ logo have gone up for the first time, after the Homebase signs were removed.

READ MORE: M&S foodhall opening date

The retail site spans more than 18,000 sq ft and the foodhall comes as part of the M&S “rotation and renewal programme”.

The new store will create 75 jobs and recruitment is now under way.

New M&S signs outside a foodhall in Abingdon (Image: Andy Ffrench)

According to M&S, the new foodhall will offer the best of M&S Food, including fresh produce from Select Farms, everyday essentials from M&S’ Remarkable Value and Bigger Pack Better Value ranges, a hot chicken counter and an in-store bakery.

A dedicated click and collect point will also allow customers to easily pick up their fashion, home and beauty online orders.

The opening of the store will be “a big step forward for the town as a whole,” town councillor Oliver Forder said earlier.

M&S staff (Image: M&S)

DIY store Homebase closed at Fairacres in February last year.

It had opened in a new unit at the retail park in 2021 where Costa Coffee and Lidl can also be found.

Paddy Sunderland, store manager at M&S Abingdon, said: “We’re so excited to open the doors of our brand-new food store in Abingdon this spring – customers don’t have long to wait.

“In the meantime, we’re thrilled to be building a team of exceptional colleagues at the store, who will help deliver the best possible shopping experience for our customers.”

Shoppers have welcomed the arrival of the new foodhall, as it will save them a journey to Didcot or Oxford.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) has appealed to the public today (Monday, March 30) for more information in the search for two missing teens.

Both a male and a female have disappeared from different parts of the county over the past three days.

Joshua, whose surname has not been revealed by the police force, disappeared at around 11pm on Saturday (March 28).

READ MORE: Police update on missing man who disappeared one year ago

Missing man Joshua. (Image: Thames Valley Police)

The 19-year-old from the Bicester area is a white male, 5ft 11 in height, of slim build, and has blonde curly hair.

It is unknown what Joshua is wearing, and as well as having links to the Bicester area, police say that he may travel to Birmingham.

A statement from TVP said: “If you have any information regarding Joshua’s whereabouts, please call TVP quoting reference 43260154197.”

READ MORE: Police ‘increasingly concerned’ in search for missing schoolgirl

Missing girl Ruby. (Image: Thames Valley Police)

Ruby, whose surname was also not revealed by police, is also missing from her home in Headington, Oxford, and was last seen at 3.10am this morning (Monday, March 30).

Police say that there could be a possibility she may have travelled outside of the Oxford area.

The 13-year-old is described by police as 5ft 2in with a stocky build, long brown hair, and she may be wearing a pink puffer jacket.

A statement from TVP said: “If you see Ruby, please call 999 quoting reference 0125 of Monday, March 30.”

The short bridge between Swinford and Eynsham, which costs 5p per crossing, is in need of essential masonry repairs to the stone parapet.

Work will be carried out overnight between the hours of 8pm and 6am, starting on Monday, March 30.

It is anticipated by Oxfordshire County Council that the work will be completed on Friday, April 3.

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A spokesperson for the council said: “Limited access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and for frontages within the closed section of road, subject to the progress of the works.

“Access will be maintained for cyclists and pedestrians.”

Meanwhile, a suggested diversion route by the county council for motorists is via the B4044, A420, A34, B449 and vice versa.

Lorries often get stuck on the Swinford Toll Bridge due to its narrow lane.

Swinford Toll Bridge was sold by auction for £1.08m in 2009, bringing in an estimated £190,000 a year despite it being the lowest charge in the country.