The shell of a shop, already fitted with freezers, toilets and worktops, was dropped into place in an innovative £1.5 million scheme.

Cranes hoisted seven steel-framed blocks of a pre-built Co-op store off the back of lorries and onto foundations in derelict land, where the Ring O' Bells public house previously stood, off Eccleshill roundabout, Bradford.

It is the first time this innovative construction method, which saves up to 16 weeks of building work, has been put into practice by United Co-operatives in Yorkshire.

The sudden appearance of the store, which will create 20 new jobs, has been a distraction to passing motorists, said John Briddon, senior operations manager at the Co-op's regional office in Wyke.

He said: "I've seen people driving down the road and having a double take - you can see them thinking, when did they start building that?' "The store will create 20 new jobs and the shop will launch on July 27. It will take four weeks from now to finish the store and add all the Co-op fittings. Work will begin on a car park next."

Off-site construction and Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, manufactured the modulars - complete with a brick exterior - at its plant in York.

Peter Jenkins, national accounts manager of Yorkon, said: "It addresses a lot of the green issues because this is a factory-made construction. On site wastage is a lot lower, it saves weeks of building work and it means the store will be up and running a lot sooner."

Yorkon have made similar buildings for Tesco and McDonalds and were picked to put together a 123 steel-framed extension to Bradford Royal Infirmary in 2003.

United Co-operatives have spent a total £1.5 million to purchase the site in Eccleshill, demolish the pub and install and fit out the shop.