Asda will provide healthcare benefits to its 165,000-strong workforce.

Staff will have the option to contribute £1.95 each week, which will allow them to claim money towards dental treatment, optical care and physiotherapy.

The scheme will be communicated to staff through a roadshow that will visit stores and depots as well as a specially designed internet site.

Jane Earnshaw, reward manager at Asda, said: "We were searching for a tangible benefit that our [employees] would find really useful. The health cash plan is a cost-effective benefit with an unrivalled array of very usable healthcare benefits."

The retailer is working with healthcare provider LHF to provide a cash plan.