SHOPPERS at a York supermarket found a new bargain amid the baked beans at the weekend.

While buying their groceries, customers calling at the Asda superstore, at the Monk's Cross centre, could snap up a flu jab at £11.97 a shot.

Administered by professional nurses, the initiative on Saturday was a UK first.

The 200 vaccinations available were disappearing fast within minutes of the service being opened, at 10am.

In the queue was taxi-driver Bernard Nicholson, of nearby Haxby, who said: "I'm 58, so I'm a bit young for a free one, but I get customers bringing all sorts of coughs and sneezes into the cab, so I wanted to get the jab."

Shop assistant Sue Strong, of Huntington, said: "I had Hong Kong flu once and it was terrible. I didn't want another two weeks of that."

Asda spokeswoman Jessica Price said the project appeared to have been a success and a similar session seems likely in future.

Yesterday, North Yorkshire Health Authority consultant Louise Coole said: "We wouldn't be anticipating any flu activity until later in the year, with a peak around Christmas time."