WOOLWORTH'S is sifting through a a deluge of 4,000 applications for the 280 jobs available at its newly-built Big W store in Newport.

Selecting the lucky ones is part of the preparations under way for the opening on the 28East retail park on Docks Way, in October.

At 86,000 sqft of retail space, the store is believed to be the biggest of its kind in the city. It will sell 55,000 product lines.

The company has been overwhelmed by the response to its advertisements for staff, which are being dealt with at the local Job Centre.

Finishing touches are being put to the store, the first to be occupied on the site and the result of a £7 million investment.

The company is banking on Big W making a huge impression in the city with its philosophy of low-cost shopping. It will be its first Welsh store.

The new manager is 40-year-old Steve Gillies, from Rogerstone, formerly a senior manager with Wickes covering an area from Plymouth to Swansea.

Mr Gillies and his operation's manager Tim Kemp are currently based at Woolworths' new store in Cwmbran, an equally successful Gwent venture, planning the build-up and stocking of the Newport Big W.

* Pictured: Newport's Big W store, which is opening soon

Even by the standards of commercial hype, Big W is a success story. In reducing the costs of products sourced specifically for the company and also drawn from sister companies within the Woolworths group, Newport will be the 14th Big W in a UK roll-out that seems unstoppable. The 2002 expansion programme will include three other stores within three months.

Discounting coupled with the Big W concept of 'retail-tainment' - making shopping entertaining - make the company confident of continuing its success in Wales.

"Our approach to retailing has low prices at its core, which is supported by a buying strategy that enables us to pass on massive savings directly to customers on a huge range of everyday items," said Mr Gillies.

"Market research undertaken by the company at our stores shows that shoppers enjoy the huge discounts on quality goods, the wide variety and choice, and the spaciousness and wide aisles the stores provide."

Mr Gillies said he was pleased with the quality of job applications so far.

"They are so good that it will be a shame that we will have to say no to most of them," he said. "But in the run-up to Christmas we will be hoping to take on more, temporary, staff."

As the first occupant at 28East, Big W will be looking forward to two events - more stores coming on site to make the park an attraction and the completion of the Southern Distributor Road, which will run alongside, connecting Tredegar Park with the Coldra.