A SUPERMARKET extension could further damage trade in nearby town centres, retailers have warned.

Tesco wants to add 20,000sq ft of floorspace to its Catterick Garrison store, which opened in 2000.

But town manager Colin Grant and the Richmond Business and Tourism Association fear the development could force more shops to close.

Town manager Colin Grant, who works with the Richmond Swale Valley Community Initiative to promote the town, has written to Richmondshire District Council.

"Richmond has been experiencing the effects of retail dislocation for a number of years," he said.

"This decline was merely accelerated by the garrison Tesco. By 2002, of the 100 shops in Richmond town centre, 18 were empty, 11 were hairdressers and seven were charity shops."

Mr Grant says the situation has improved recently - there are now nine empty shops - but he fears the planned extension would only hinder the town's regeneration.

Mike Nicholls, vice chairman of the Richmond Business and Tourism Association, has also written to the council.

He urges members to wait for the results of a study into the effect of the superstore on nearby towns before it makes a decision on the extension.

In his letter to the council, Mr Nicholls says his association wants the application to be considered after the Yorkshire Forward Retail Impact Study has reported.

He writes: "Hopefully an independent analysis of the retail scene for the area will indicate whether Tesco's proposals place it in a dangerously monopolistic position, thus destroying any freedom of choice in the long term."

Highways chiefs are also worried about the extension. They say not enough provision for pedestrians and cyclists has been included.

The extension would mean extra floorspace for goods, a small cafe, additional storage and more car parking spaces. Tesco says the new development would create an 70 jobs. The plans have already been approved in principle by councillors, but another meeting today will consider the proposal again in light of these new comments.

Planning officers will again recommend that planning permission be approved.