SHOPPERS can get their hands on free veg this week - and meet an Olympic gold medallist.

Aldi is offering the free fruit and vegetable stash to the first 30 customers through the doors of their new Rodbourne Road store, building on the former site of Even Swindon School.

And Heather Stanning, who helped row Great Britain to a gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, will cut the ribbon to open the new store.

Ahead of the launch Heather, an ambassador for Aldi, said: “I can’t wait to visit Swindon and chat to some excited shoppers. Aldi makes it so easy for Team GB athletes to stock up on healthy, fresh foods through the vouchers it provides us with."

Store manager Charlene Woodward added: “We’re delighted that Heather will be hosting our grand opening celebrations. No doubt this will be a brilliant start for the Swindon store and we can’t wait to meet local shoppers over the coming weeks and months.”

Aldi says the new 1,254 sqm store will bring 27 new jobs to the area.

But it hasn't been universally popular. Last year, Rodbourne residents feared the new supermarket could deepen the gridlock on the roads. Martin Richardson said: “Congestion round here is already a nightmare at certain times of the day, and with customers coming and going, I expect the supermarket will make matters worse.”

Aldi will open at 8am on Thursday, October 25.