A VISION for the regeneration of a city centre site was unveiled by the store group Tesco last night.

More than three years after the closure of Vaux Breweries, with the loss of 430 jobs, Tesco announced plans to develop a showpiece superstore employing 600 people on part of the 17-acre site, in Sunderland.

The £50m development would also include a 900-space car park, mostly underground, office and business premises, a residential area and a filling station.

A glazed walkway over St Mary's Way would connect the site to the city centre.

Demolition is under way to remove the last of the 124-year-old brewery buildings, as Tesco tries to win over the Wearside public before lodging a planning application.

A 230-strong invited audience of "interested parties" ran the rule over the plans at a video presentation at the Stadium of Light last night.

They also go on show in the Bridges shopping centre today and tomorrow, and the store group is to survey 60,000 local people, seeking further feedback.

However, Tom Macartney, chief executive of the Sunderland Area Regeneration Company, while welcoming Tesco's interest, said: "We do not believe that building a huge shed, with substantial car parking spaces, on the Vaux site is in the city's best, long-term interest. It would, in our opinion, be detrimental to the city centre."