A NEW BP petrol station with an  M&S Simply Food store has opened today in Colchester.

After months of work, the new station in Ipswich Road launched today with the addition of a new car wash on the forecourt.

The site, which was formerly an Esso garage, has created 30 jobs.

Approximately £1.5 million has been spent on the rebuild.

The store now offers motorists the chance to fill up their shopping baskets at the same time as they fill up with fuel, car parking, a car wash and vac facilities, a toilet accessible to disabled people as well as a baby changing-room.

Adam Whitehouse, BP district manager said: “The new store and introduction of the M&S Simply Food range means we have been able to create 30 new jobs for people in the local area.

"It’ll be open late providing customers with a selected range of Marks & Spencer’s high quality fresh, innovative food alongside the best of BP fuels and our very own Wild Bean Café.”

 The first customers at BP on Ipswich Road will a receive a range of discounts and a free bag for life.