Discount retailer Aldi has announced plans to open a new store in East Renfrewshire.

The UK’s fifth largest supermarket has been on an expansion drive in recent years, opening around one new store a week on average to meet demand from customers.

Now the German firm, which already has branches in Newton Mearns and Paisley, has revealed it is on the lookout for 20 new locations in Scotland, including one in Clarkston.

Aldi bosses have said they are focusing on freehold town centre or edge-of-centre sites that are suitable for development.

They hope to secure a site in Clarkston that is around 1.5 acres and able to accommodate a 20,000 sq ft store with around 100 parking spaces, ideally on a prominent main road and with good visibility and access.

Ciaran Aldridge, national property director at Aldi UK, said: “We have been investing in Britain for more than 30 years but we know there are still areas that either do not have an Aldi at all or that need another store to meet customer demand.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking to get unbeatable prices on their weekly shop without compromising on quality. That’s why, more so than ever, we’re keen to explore all opportunities to open new stores.”