SOMERFIELD the supermarket chain criticised the Competition Commission for intervening in its takeover of 115 former Safeway stores from Morrisons.

Bristol-based Somerfield said the Commission had "put the cart before the horse" in its provisional finding that the deal would result in a "substantial lessening of competition" in 14 areas. It could be forced to sell the stores to rival retailers as a result of the provisional ruling.

Somerfield argued the body had acted on a "theoretical possibility" that it would behave in a certain way.

In a submission to the authority, the chain said: "Somerfield considers that the CC has merely identified a potential lessening of competition and labelled it significant, presuming that adverse effects will follow. It is submitted that that is legally insufficient."

The company added: "The CC has given no reason why Somerfield's practices in the identified local markets are likely to differ from those found in the real world."

It also pointed out that many of the stores under scrutiny compete with other shops run by big competitors such as Asda, Lidl and Tesco nearby.

The stores that cause competition concerns include a Northumberland, Filey, North Yorkshire and Johnstone and Paisley in Renfrewshire.

Kelso and Peebles, Scottish Borders; Littlehampton, West Sussex; Middlesbrough Linthorpe; Newark; Pocklington, East Riding; Poole Bearwood; South Shields; Whitburn, West Lothian; Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees.

Christopher Clarke, chairman of the Competition Commission inquiry, said last month: "We believe the only effective means of restoring competition in these areas is for the identified stores to be sold to a suitable grocery retailer who will offer choice and actively compete in the relevant local markets."

Somerfield, which completed the transfer of the stores in March, is in the midst of a three-year programme to refurbish the sites.