Forty jobs will be created when Marks and Spencer opens a convenience food store at Brighton station.

The shop, one of the firm's Simply Food franchises, will be the first to open in a railway station outside London.

Commuters are promised a selection of fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, bread and ready-made meals in a convenient location.

The shop will be on the station concourse and is expected to open by late-spring.

Three Simply Food shops were given a trial at Victoria, Liverpool Street and Marylebone stations in London.

The firm hopes to open 25 more across the UK this spring and a total of 150 by the end of 2005.

Forty will be franchised shops in major railway stations.

The firm is confident the 1,500 sq ft Simply Food store will complement its larger store in Brighton city centre.

Spokeswoman Bella Pagdin said: "People nowadays don't want to trek into the centre of town just to pick up a few things for dinner, even if it is just five minutes away.

"Our Simply Food stores will offer high-quality fresh food for people who do not have much time to shop, or have a train to catch."

She estimated the store would involve 25 full-time equivalent jobs, filled by 40 people in full and part-time roles.