Waitrose is shipping southern staff north of the border to cope with demand at its two new Scottish stores in Edinburgh.

David Lincoln, manager of the Comely Bank branch, which opened last month, said that the number of customers passing through its doors each week had exceeded all expectations.

He added: "Now that we have identified our level of trade, we have vacancies we need to fill in order to support our team and maintain the high levels of service."

Temporary staff currently working at Comely Bank have come from as far south as Saltash in Cornwall, the chain's southernmost store.

Waitrose is now set to embark on a massive staff recruitment drive, with more than 50 non-managerial vacancies waiting to be filled at Comely Bank alone, and many more at its other Edinburgh supermarket in Morningside.

Waitrose has also responded to customer demand at the Scottish stores to open for longer.

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