A GARAGE with a Marks and Spencer food store has increased its staff numbers by 25 per cent in less than four years.

And bosses say the creation of more jobs in the near future can’t be ruled out at the thriving Colchester BP garage and Simply Food.

It opened in 2010 to coincide with the opening of the A12 junction 28 at Cuckoo Farm, where it’s based.

Twenty staff were recruited at the time and since then a further five jobs have been needed to keep up with customer demand.

Colchester’s first park and ride scheme is also due to open on land next to the garage next March, bringing with it the prospect of more jobs at the garage.

A BT spokesman said: “It is a very busy store and we do review our staffing levels regularly.

“A lot of the staff are part time. We will certainly be looking to see if we need to take on extra staff if shop sales increase after the opening of the nearby park and ride.“ Martin Goss, councillor for Colchester’s Mile End Ward and a Myland Community Councillor, said: “This is good news for employment in Colchester although we need to attract more higher paid jobs out of the city, to stop Colchester becoming a place people commute from.”

Last week work to build the park and ride and a neighbouring McDonald’s restaurant started.

Cranes have been placing the two-storey drive through restaurant on land next to the BP service station.

Essex County Council contractors have begun building a road to the long-overdue park and ride, which will have 1,000 spaces.

The developments are the latest to take place near the Weston Homes Community Stadium, which had been isolated when it opened in 2008.

The provisional opening date for the McDonald’s is September 24 and is set to create more than 100 jobs.