A SUPERMARKET is still determined to expand its Teesside store, despite withdrawing its planning appeal.

Tesco supermarket in Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, had been refused planning permission by Stockton Borough Council to extend its Myton Road store by 40 per cent.

Britain's biggest supermarket chain decided to lodge an appeal, after receiving support from residents on the growing estate.

It wants to increase the store from 3,214sq metres to 5,587sq metres, leading to the creation of 100 jobs.

However, it has now withdrawn the appeal, citing time delays as the major factor.

"We still very much want to support our customers by extending our Ingleby Barwick store. But, following further discussions with the council, we think we can work with them to achieve this without needing to appeal," said a Tesco spokesman.

"We are committed to this happening. We want to make this investment.

"Our customers tell us they want to see a greater food range and more clothing, and we are just looking at the best ways this can happen, and how it can happen quickly."

He said the problem with an appeal was not the cost, but the time it took to be heard and then a decision made.

"It might be that we can, in some way, look at the existing application again," he added.

"We think this may be a better way of getting a resolution."

A council spokeswoman could only confirm that the appeal had been withdrawn.

Councillor David Harrington, who is a member of the Ingleby Barwick Independent Society (Ibis), said he had been shocked to see Tesco withdraw the appeal.

"We were disappointed. We were quite surprised that Tesco had not followed it through," he said.

"I imagine there will be quite a few residents in this area who are also disappointed and surprised. However, it's nice to hear they are still positive about our community.

"Of their 300 staff at the Ingleby Barwick store, 220 live on the estate, so they are a big local employer.

"The only thing that we would ask of Tesco is that it is a partner in the community. We would like greater security at the store, including CCTV."