A new Costa Coffee outlet built entirely with taxpayers' money has now open for business in Glastonbury.

South Somerset District Council invested £700,000 in building the new outlet within the car park of the B&Q store on Wirral Park Road in Glastonbury as part of its commercial investment programme.

Planning permission for the outlet was secured from Mendip District Council in May 2021, with South Somerset subsequently shelling out £450,000 of the £700,000 budget into constructing the new drive-thru outlet.

The branch has now opened for business, creating 15 local jobs – with the long-term returns from the built helping to fund front-line services in Somerset in the years to come.

Mike Aldridge, Costa's regional operations director, said: "We are proud to bring a brand-new Costa Coffee to Glastonbury, creating at least 15 new jobs for local people and investing in the community.

"The Wirral Park Road store is the perfect place to grab a quick drink whilst out shopping or en route to work, or to enjoy the outdoor seating with some friends over delicious tray-bakes.

"Our brilliant team are ready to welcome customers to the store and serve them a perfectly crafted Costa coffee alongside our exciting food range."

The new store will also serve M&S Food along its own food and drink as part of a new partnership with the food chain.

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The Glastonbury store is one of more than 100 branches which Costa Coffee and its franchise partners wishes to open by the end of 2022 as part of a wider investment programme.

This follows the opening of a new outlet in Highbridge in December 2021, with Sedgemoor District Council currently considering plans for a new branch at Dunball Services in Bridgwater, near junction 23 of the M5.

A further branch will be built in the car park of the Morrisons supermarket off Lysander Road in Yeovil after plans were approved before Christmas.