British supermarket group Tesco is planning to create 10,000 new jobs to keep pace with its rapid expansion programme. The positions, to be split between part-time and full-time workers, will come at a number of new stores and at extensions to existing outlets across the UK.

Confirmation of the plans, which will swell the ranks of Tesco's 160,000-strong workforce over the next 12 months, will be made today when the company is expected to report a strong set of full-year results. However, a Tesco spokeswoman in Dublin said the expansion programme has no bearing on the company's plans for the Republic. She said Tesco Ireland was currently in the middle of a major refurbishment and re-branding programme on its 76 stores and this was the company's "main focus at present".