THE Mayor and Mayoress of Durham helped cut the cake to celebrate a supermarket chain’s 140th birthday.

Councillor Dennis Southwell and his wife Elspeth did the honours at Sainsbury’s, on the Arnison Centre, Durham.

They were joined by Gertrude Minnikin, a Sainsbury’s customer since 1933.

Mrs Minnikin, 87, said: "I always get what I want at Sainsbury’s and if I can’t find something the staff are always friendly and are happy to help me.

"I’m so pleased to be helping customers and colleagues celebrate and I’m definitely looking forward to some birthday cake."

Durham County Council recently approved plans to expand the out-of-town store by 2,194sq metres, creating 80 new full- and part-time jobs, taking the total employed at the store to 467.