SUPERMARKET giant Asda increased the pressure on the high street yesterday by launching thousands of products bought with the help of American parent Wal-Mart.

Asda said about 5,000 products would be available at its 247 UK Asda stores that had been sourced by Asda/Wal-Mart buyers from around the globe.

The move sees Asda use its parent's buying power on a large scale for the first time.

Asda, which was swallowed up by Wal-Mart in July 1999 in a £6.7bn deal, said it had built up the links with Wal-Mart suppliers over the past two years.

The range includes duvets, DVD players and microwaves.