Shropshire’s economy received a much needed boost today with the news that 280 new jobs are to be created by two firms expanding in the county.

Tesco is to build a new foodstore in Ellesmere on the Wharf development site, with posts for between 140 and 150 workers.

Meanwhile, Ludlow-based Premier Medical said it would be creating 40 new jobs by the end of the year, with an additional 100 staff needed by 2012.

Tesco bosses said today that work on the 20,000 sq ft store would start in the new year, with the supermarket planning to open before Christmas 2009.

Tony Fletcher, of Tesco, said: “It will be a superstore and it will employ up to 150 people. There’s been quite a bit of discussion, but we feel it will bring positive advantages to the town and stop some of the leakage of people going out of Ellesmere to do their shopping.”

Geoff Elner, Ellesmere town mayor, said some people had been concerned about the supermarket taking trade away from smaller shops, but he was optimistic it would boost business in the town.

Premier Medical Group, which is the country’s largest provider of medical reports mainly for the insurance industry, is planning a major expansion of its services at its base at Ludlow Eco Park.

Jason Powell, for Premier Medical, said: “Because of the success of the core medical reporting business and, more specifically, the growth of Premier Rehabilitation launched last year and its new Occupational Health service – both based in Ludlow – the business is looking to expand the number of staff in that office by 30 per cent this year, to 150.”