SHOPPERS are being invited to a special birthday celebration as Cowley Road's Tesco Metro turns 50.

On Thursday it will be half a century since the supermarket chain opened in the heart of East Oxford and the store is hosting a party for customers and staff to mark the anniversary.

Service manager Michelle Witts, who has worked at the branch since she left school in 1985, said: "What really makes the place special is how family-orientated it is.

"My sisters Sarah and Lisa both also work at the store and quite a lot of staff have family members who work here or have in the past.

"It's a unique place to work and I've never been tempted to leave.

"I joke that when I retire I'll still be coming in to sit at the tills."

The 48-year-old, from Blackbird Leys, added: "I think it's a testament to the atmosphere we've got here that we have so many long-serving staff, quite a few have been here for 30 or 40 years."

Ms Witts has seen many changes over the years, from the replacement of the old red and checked uniforms to serving a more ethnically diverse community.

She said: "You watch people grow up, even the students. We see them arrive in first year as nervous freshers and grow throughout their time here."

The store has not just been a place for people to pick up a loaf of bread and a carton of milk, but does a wealth of charity work in the East Oxford community.

Staff have been involved in everything from hosting Macmillan coffee mornings, helping local soup kitchens and food banks, to hosting charity bag packing and supporting Cowley Road Carnival.

Pat Green, who has been working as the branch's community champion for the past 10 years, said: "I was a customer before I joined the staff and it was such a meeting place I used to call it Tesco Community Centre.

"There is something really special about the relationship we have between staff and the community which I've been keen to build on."

"I found once we have links with one group, it leads to others thinking to ask us for help and has created really strong ties with the community. We are like a hub now for all sorts of events, fundraising and charity work."

One of most important relationships the supermarket has it with East Oxford Primary School, which is located on nearby Union Street.

The store has helped pupils fundraise for new play equipment.

Schoolchildren will be part of the celebration, which starts at 2pm.

Customers and former staff are welcome to enjoy a slice of birthday cake and reminisce about the supermarket's long history.