DIGGERS are now busy flattening the construction site for an Aldi store in Bingley.

Heavy machinery was hard at work within days of the German retail giant taking over the 37-space Ferncliffe car park from Bradford Council.

Councillor David Heseltine (Con, Bingley) said people were delighted, and a little relieved, to see such swift action.

"People are very pleased to see such a busy site - they really are going great guns," Cllr Heseltine said.

"Now we want speedy construction so the the new store will open quickly to the benefit of customers and of Bingley.

"There was an issue which caused a delay over transfer of some land which was needed for the site, but I alerted Shipley MP Philip Davies who raised the matter in the House of Commons the very next day and things moved on nicely from there."

Mr Davies said he was delighted the groundwork had begun.

"This is good news for Bingley," he said.

A spokesman for Aldi said: “We look forward to opening our new store to serve the Bingley community. Subject to work going ahead as planned, we are aiming to open the store before Christmas 2015.”

Alternative parking is available at the 60-space Wellington Street car park near the railway station and the 50-space Waterloo car park at Midland Hill.