A NEW supermarket is likely to bring 350 jobs to the hard-pressed town of Ebbw Vale next year.

Morrison of Bradford, flushed with the success of its new supermarket 20 miles away in Rogerstone, is planning to move into the old Co-op Pioneer store on the outskirts of the town.

The jobs should be a blessing to an area where the main employer, Ebbw Vale tinplate works, will be closed by owners Corus this July.

Some will cavil at the suggestion that jobs in service industries can ever replace the well-paid ones in steel, though in places like Ebbw Vale anything that pumps up the local economy is welcome.

Morrison has submitted a planning application to Blaenau Gwent council for permission to extend the Pioneer site and refurbish the existing store.

Approval could be given next month and the store could be open in the first half of 2003. A Morrison spokeswoman said: "It would be true to say that the success of Morrison at Rogerstone means we are keen to get further representation in the area."

But another vexing problem in Ebbw Vale is the issue of out-of-town stores, which can threaten town centre trade.

Samantha Lewis, a member of the Ebbw Vale Town Traders Forum, said Morrison's arrival would be a mixed blessing.

"From the point of view of jobs it's excellent - it will also be taking business out of the centre of town," said Ms Lewis, of the town's Crossing Cafe. "But it could be a good thing in attracting people here. We do get some trade from people visiting the Festival Park."

Accountant Steve Drake, of Garry White and Company, said: "Providing a lot of jobs can only be a good thing for Ebbw Vale. Many who had jobs at the site before have probably been successful elsewhere but this could bring some of them back into employment."

Resident Fred Prosser, of Augusta Park, Victoria, who once worked at the steel plant, said: "I cannot fault it. Perhaps it will give Tesco a bit of competition." He said 20 years ago service jobs would not have compared with those in heavy industry, but people had to acclimatise to changed circumstances.

Morrison, Britain's fifth biggest supermarket chain, is doing brisk business throughout the UK. Ebbw Vale will be part of a 4,500-job expansion this year and next at 15 new stores.