MARKS & Spencer is to open a store in Bingley.

Oil giant BP has bought the Rankin petrol station in Keighley Road and is now constructing a new filling station with an M&S Simply Food outlet.

A planning application was submitted by BP Oil last December for the redevelopment of the site, which including the demolition of the existing buildings and a new petrol station constructed.

Permission was granted on February 17, 2016.

BP confirmed that the building work will continue over the summer.

Its spokesman said: "The site on Keighley Road will be a BP garage with a Marks & Spencer store, which is expected to be open in August this year."

Richard Holmes, honorary vice-president of Bingley Chamber of Trade, said that the Marks & Spencer store would be a welcome addition to the town.

He said: "I think it will go down extremely well, and the food will do extremely well too.

"It's only going to be small but will prove to be very popular in Bingley, people will welcome it as it's a bit upmarket.

"At the moment we have an Aldi which is doing really well, but there are rumours that we might be getting a Netto store as well which will be two discount supermarkets, so a more upmarket option should go down well.

"It's a bit of a shame that it isn't going to be in the centre of town, it would have been really good if it had been there.

"As for the petrol station, I think the people of Bingley can cope for a few months without it, and will just go to Keighley or Shipley, so we'll cope in that respect."

Councillor David Heseltine (Con, Bingley) said he hoped the new store would provide a catalyst for other retailers to move to the town.

"Marks & Spencer is a quality shop that will be well received by the people of Bingley, it's just a pity they're not building a bigger store on the old building society site," he said.

"I don't think it will be competing with the likes of Aldi as it's a shop with quite a niche customer base, but it will certainly add to Bingley, and hopefully stop folk from wandering further afield to do their shopping.

"If it goes well, hopefully they will spread more into the town."

BP has also applied for permission to construct five signs on the site including a price tower, and will be required to construct a car park with marked bays.