Supermarket chain Asda will create 7,000 new jobs this year, a spokesman said today.

More than half them will be created by the opening of 14 new stores and the planned expansion of 15 existing sites.

President and chief executive officer of Asda Andy Bond said: "This year we will create 7,000 new jobs at a time when many companies are having to lay people off. We will also be helping 3,000 long-term unemployed get back into work by specifically targeting them for existing vacancies in our business.

"Our track record of recruiting and retaining people is second to none, which is why we have the lowest turnover and most motivated workforce in British retail."

Among the locations where new stores will be built are Bury St Edmunds, in Suffolk, and Chelmsley Wood in the West Midlands.

The jobs that will be offered to 3,000 long-term unemployed include part-time roles.

Many of them will come through a partnership between Asda and Remploy which helps disabled people find work.

The move was welcomed by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions James Purnell.

He said: "At a time when we are facing global economic challenges people need as much support as possible to help them get into jobs. Local Employment Partnership's such as Asda have been a real success. We're on target to get 250,000 long-term unemployed people back into work through the scheme and thanks to the extra money we got in the Pre-Budget report last November we are also opening it up to people who have just lost their jobs."

Remploy was set up by the Government in 1945 to help disabled ex-servicemen back into work.