Supermarket giant Lidl has identified each place in the North East and North Yorkshire where it wants to open a new store.

The discount supermarket will soon welcome shoppers to new stores across the region - but it has now pinpointed other places where it wants a new store.

This includes in places it may already have one shop, as Lidl looks to expand across the UK.

Lidl said that it is looking for sites in prominent locations with easy access and strong pedestrian or traffic flow.

The site should be at least one and a half acres for a standalone store and up to four acres for mixed-use schemes.

Sites should allow for unit sizes between 18,000 and 26,500 sq ft and over 100 dedicated car parking spaces.

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Lidl said it will also consider freehold, leasehold or long leasehold opportunities.

Richard Taylor, chief development officer at Lidl GB, said: "We have also been the fastest growing bricks and mortar supermarket for the past seven months in a row.

"With an exceptional store network and our laser focus on operational excellence, we're welcoming more customers through our doors than ever before, which positions us perfectly for continued expansion.

"We're planning to open hundreds of new Lidl stores but ultimately see no ceiling on our ambition or growth potential."

Here is every North East and Yorkshire area Lidl want a supermarket:

  • Boldon
  • Chester-le-Street
  • Cramlington
  • Darlington - North
  • Darlington - South
  • Eston
  • Gateshead - Bensham
  • Gateshead - Birtley
  • Gateshead - Low Fell
  • Gateshead - Ryton
  • Gateshead - Wrekenton (rel)
  • Jarrow
  • Marske/Saltburn
  • Middlesbrough - Linthorpe
  • Middlesbrough - Marton
  • Middlesbrough - South West
  • Newcastle - City Centre West
  • Newcastle - Gosforth/Fawdon
  • Newcastle - High Heaton
  • Newcastle - Kingston Park
  • Newcastle - North Gosforth
  • Newcastle - Slatyford (rel)
  • Newcastle - West Denton/Chapel Park
  • Newton Aycliffe
  • North Shields
  • Seaham
  • Sedgefield
  • South Shields - Laygate (rel)
  • South Shields - Marsden
  • Stanley
  • Stockton - Billingham
  • Stockton - Ingleby Barwick
  • Stockton - Yarm
  • Stokesley
  • Sunderland - City Centre West
  • Sunderland - Doxford Park
  • Sunderland - Roker 
  • Thirsk
  • Tynemouth
  • Whitley Bay