THE troubled Crown and Sceptre pub in Staines Road, Feltham is to reopen as a Tesco Express store later this month.

The supermarket chain has created 17 jobs, which have been filled by people living in the borough, and it revealed there had been 300 applicants.

The Express store's opening hours will be seven days a week from 6am until 12 midnight. Parking is also available to customers.

Store manager, Ivan Boska, said: “I was thrilled by the response we received to our recruitment drive. In this time of economic uncertainty, it is great that we are able to create jobs for our local community and help get people back into work.

“I am really pleased with my new team and I’m looking forward to working with them. We are delighted to be opening a Tesco Express store on Staines Road and look forward to playing an active role in the local community.”

A decision on Tesco's application for a premises licence is due on May 7. 

When it was open the pub was the subject of several allegations of fights and assaults including a rape allegation. It closed three years ago after owners Punch Taverns decided not to renew the licence.