Darlington'S Asda supermarket is asking customers to support its bid to open an in-store chemist - just across the road from an existing pharmacy.

It has launched a petition on the back of an Office of Fair Trading recommendation urging the Government to end controls on how NHS prescription contracts are awarded.

Seane Wilkinson, general manager of the Whinbush store, said: "Whenever we ask customers what additional services we should provide, pharmacy comes out top by miles."

He plans to present the petition, backing an end to what Asda sees as the present "closed shop" practice, to Health Secretary, Alan Milburn. But local chemists also intend to tell the Darlington MP their concerns about possible closures.

Moss and Lloyds pharmacies have each applied to set up shop at Morrison's supermarket at Morton Park, where two other applications were lost on appeal in 1998. They are being supported by Darlington and Teesdale Community Health Council on the grounds of longer hours for customers.

Objections have been lodged by existing businesses, including Rowlands, which runs the shop next to the Whinfield GP surgery, across the road from Asda.

Ian Cowan, superintendent pharmacist, told the D&S Times their main source of income was from prescriptions.

If the OFT's recommendation was implemented, the number of pharmacies in supermarkets would increase, so they could use prescription money to subsidise other medicines.

Others would open in areas of high customer numbers and near doctors' surgeries.

"Choice will be improved, but access to pharmaceutical services will not," said Mr Cowan.