SUPERMARKET giants Asda and Morrisons brought good news to the economy today.

SUPERMARKET giants Asda and Morrisons brought good news to the economy today.

Asda will create an extra 10,000 seasonal jobs this year in time for Christmas, it announced today.

The additional jobs will double Asda's "seasonal squad", who work in busy periods of the year, to 20,000.

Meanwhile Morrisons said half-year profits leapt to �449 million.

An Asda spokesman said the jobs come on top of a commitment announced in January to create 7,000 new jobs by the end of the year, mostly through the opening of new stores - like that at Stoke Park in Ipswich - and the expansion of existing sites.

Asda's Andy Clarke said: "Our seasonal jobs are ideal for students and those looking for part-time work over the festive period. It's the busiest time of the year for Asda, and we're expecting this to be our biggest Christmas ever.”

Morrisons 45per cent increase in pre-tax profits came after same-store sales rose by 7.8pc, excluding fuel and VAT, in the six months to August 2.

But Morrisons - the first of the major UK-owned supermarkets to report interim figures - cautioned there would be slower market sales growth to come as food price inflation eases back.