Aldi has announced plans to open a new store in Barnet.

The budget chain - now the UK's fourth largest supermarket - is planning to expand to 1,500 stores nationwide, with a focus on locations within the M25.

Alongside Barnet, the German firm has listed a number of priority locations  across London where it hopes to open stores, including Notting Hill, Chelsea, and Richmond.

This forms part of a £500 million drive to open 100 more stores in the capital, creating around 3,500 new jobs.

Jonathan Neale, managing director of national real estate at Aldi UK, said: "We want to make high quality, affordable food accessible to all, but there are still many areas in the capital that don’t have access to an Aldi and, as a result, too many people have to make do with big prices at the traditional supermarkets.

"The locations we’ve identified are places where there is demand for our stores and we are committed to continue investing until we can bring our quality products and unbeatable prices to as many people as possible."

Other locations in London where Aldi hopes to open new stores are Walthamstow, Wanstead, Winchmore Hill, Kensington, Chiswick, Highbury, Hackney, Beckenham and Bromley.

Aldi is offering property agents a finder’s fee for identifying potential sites for new stores.

Either a 1.5 per cent share of a freehold price or 10 per cent of first year's leasehold rent will be paid if a previously unknown site is recommended.

The firm requires large sites to accommodate its standard 20,000sq ft stores, which each need around 100 dedicated parking spaces.

Ideally, these will be situated along main roads, with visible and convenient access.

The retailer is also scouting for sites to host its smaller Aldi Local store format, which are around 5,000sq ft.