One hundred new jobs are being created by a city centre supermarket.

Safeway, in St James's Street, Brighton, is closing its doors for three weeks for a major refit to transform the store.

The new jobs will be on a new hot food takeaway area which store bosses hope will attract city centre workers on their lunch break.

Shoppers will be able to order freshly fried noodles from the hot wok counter as well as hot pasta, pizza, chicken and sandwiches.

The store will be given a Mediterranean-style face-lift with warm colours, natural materials and ceramic floor tiles.

A Safeway spokeswoman refused to reveal how much was being spent on the Brighton refit.

But she said there could be more jobs created if the new fresh food counter was a success.

She said: "A lot of the fresh to go areas have been put in town centres where people are looking for somewhere new to get their lunch."

Tom Mannouche, secretary of St James's Street Traders Association, said the refit was "not before time" and it would mean a major boost for the whole area.

He said: "Safeway is the puller for the whole street so it is good news for everyone. It is an important development for the whole street and we welcome it.

"I think the takeaway section is an original idea and will be a good attraction for people who want an alternative eating experience.

"But we can only wait and see if it will work. Safeway will provide shopping for people who are going to move into the flats when Hanningtons is converted and that is a bonus for all of us."

Carlos Criado-Perez, Safeway chief executive, said: "This store is a great opportunity to test out new ways of doing things, and is one of the key projects in the next phase of our turnaround."

Staff will be given new uniforms and training in pasta making, pizza throwing and wok cooking.

The store will be closed between May 5 and 27 for the refit.