Aldi is on the lookout for new store locations in Rutland and Stamford,it has announced.

The move comes after the growing retailer submitted plans last week with South Kesteven District Council for a store in Uffington Road, Stamford.

In a statement issued this week, Aldi said it sought a site in Stretton.

It also announced it was seeking a site in Bourne and a second site in Stamford, which would not affect its existing plans there.

The UK's fifth largest supermarket has been on an expansion drive in recent years as it targets having 1,200 stores open by 2025.

Aldi, which currently has more than 880 stores across the UK, is looking for freehold town-centre or edge-of-centre sites in Stamford and Stretton suitable for development.

It says each site should be 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: "Aldi is growing rapidly and we are welcoming around a million new customers into our stores every year.

"But there are also hundreds of towns across the UK where there is not an Aldi, meaning there are hundreds of thousands of people who can't easily access the high quality, affordable food our customers love.

"We are willing to explore all opportunities, including developer-led schemes or existing retail units."