SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has pulled out of plans for a huge expansion of its store at Warndon Villages.

It has gone back to the drawing board after local residents and councillors expressed grave concern about the size of the project.

It wanted to increase its existing store by 3,000 sq metres to include eight extra shops and more floor space.

The plans included a two-storey car park to cater for 548 cars rather than the current 515, and a footbridge to link the store to Lyppard Grange Community Centre.

The vision behind the grand scheme was to ensure people did not have to travel into the centre of Worcester to go shopping, according to the company. Julian Walker-Palin, Tesco's corporate affairs manager said many residents had strong feelings about the new building design and car parking situation, prompting the withdrawal after a public consultation last month.

He said: "It is evident that the community wants an improved store and we hear what our customers are saying. However, we have to balance customer requirement for an improved retail offer with issues such as sustainability and car parking." The company said it would restart debate with local residents and councillors before submitting new plans later in the year. There was big concern a new expanded Tesco would result in increased traffic.

Warndon Villages resident Rod Staines, who lives on Grassington Drive said: "The store would have been a good thing for Warndon Villages but not good for the people that live close to it.

"When I saw the plans I said the main problem was that the car park goes right to the edges of the properties. It would have put a two-storey eyesore on the periphery, and would not have been very pleasant for local residents."

Coun Martin Clarke said: "In the consultation that took place, there was a feeling lots of people were unhappy about it. The building would have stood out like a blot on the landscape. There was concern over traffic, too. It was like they were trying to make the best of a bad job."