AFTER months of construction works, Peebles' long-awaited new BP service station opened this week.

The filling station, based on Innerleithen Road, opened for the first time on Wednesday, creating 12 new jobs.

The development, which will be open each day between 6am and 10pm, also offers motorists the chance to fill up their shopping baskets at the new M&S Simply Food store.

The premises also contains a Wild Bean Café, serving up a range of drinks and hot food.

Andy Kenney, BP district manager said: “The new store and introduction of the M&S Simply Food range means we will now be open late providing customers with a selected range of Marks & Spencer’s high quality fresh, innovative food alongside the best of BP fuels and our very own Wild Bean Café.”

The first customers at the new BP branch received a range of discounts and a free ‘bag for life’ to help their future shopping.

The site, which was previously home at an Esso filling station, was demolished in April to make way for the new development.