Asda says the new staff will be recruited by the end of the year

Britain's second biggest supermarket chain said it planned to open new stores in Dorset, Somerset, London and Merseyside.

Asda, which is owned by US retailer Wal-Mart, will also be opening two new stand-alone high street fashion shops selling its own-brand George clothing.

The two stores - in Northampton and Preston - will be on a year-long trial.

Fresh expansion

Asda is keen to see how the George brand performs in the stand-alone shops, which will open his month.

The supermarket, which has overtaken rival Sainsbury's as the UK's second biggest grocer by market share, currently employs 130,000 staff across the country.

A spokeswoman for the company told BBC News Online that the 4,300 new staff would be recruited by the end of the year.

The company said it also plans to extend 21 existing stores around the country.

George is the UK's fifth largest clothing brand and competes with budget High Street retailers such as Peacock and New Look.