NETTO employees in Bolton have received letters informing them of Asda’s proposed takeover.

The supermarket giant Asda, owned by American firm Walmart, announced it had reached an agreement with the owners of Netto to buy all its UK stores last week.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is now looking into the plan.

Asda said the plan will create jobs in the Netto stores, which will continue to trade as Netto in the short term, but will be transformed into Asda stores by summer 2011.

There are Netto stores in Breightmet, Farnworth and Little Hulton.

Asda’s president and chief executive Andy Clarke said: “We very much look forward to welcoming Netto’s colleagues into our business and joining our team.

“The creation of new in-store jobs in a tough economy will also be a welcome boost in scores of communities across the UK.”

However Asda said it may be forced to sell off some of the Netto stores.

A spokesman added: “Only when we receive approval from the OFT will we be in a position to confirm the situation on a store-by-store basis. Stores we are not required to sell will become smaller Asda supermarkets and will employ up to twice as many people as they currently do trading as a Netto.”