Taxi drivers say they have been double crossed by a supermarket development.

Cabbies in Newton Aycliffe are angry and upset that the town's Tesco store, which is due to open on Monday, does not include taxi ranks.

Initial plans for the town centre development, drawn up before Tesco were involved, included provision for two ranks. But six weeks ago the taxi drivers discovered there was to be no provision for a rank.

Twenty seven companies in the town signed a petition protesting against the lack of provision and delivered it to Tesco and planners at Sedgefield Borough Council.

A freephone facility has been provided in store for customers, directing them to Horndale Taxis. But the cabbies say that no one company in the town could cope with demand because even the biggest firm has only six cars.

Horndale Taxis is supporting demands for a rank.

Ivan Denton, of Bee Line Taxis, said: "The plan that was released in 2000 had two ranks on it and now, three years down the line, everything's been shoved off. It's a double cross.

"We wanted a taxi rank there for the public, so they can come out of the store and jump straight into a taxi. We're here to serve the public. What about old people, or people with mobility problems?"

A Tesco spokesman said any provision for taxi ranks would mean the loss of car parking spaces. He said there were pick-up and drop-off points provided and pay phones in store which the public could use to order cabs.

A letter from Tesco to the firms said: "We have considered many alternatives, but unfortunately they would have too big an impact on the store and car park."

The letter added that Tesco was very disheartened that it had not been able to meet the cabbies' request and that it hoped the provision of a taxi rank would be considered in a further stage of the development by the council.