PLANS to expand a Darlington supermarkets are being discussed by councillors.

Supermarket chain Safeway submitted a planning application to increase its Victoria Road store by 40 per cent last December.

The 2,700 sq m expansion, which would see the shop move to Safeway megastore status, could create 300 jobs.

Chairman of Darlington Chamber of Trade, Albion Small, welcomed the news, saying: "Darlington should have some big supermarkets. Jobs-wise, it is obviously fantastic, but also the merchandise and the extra things which will be available if it goes ahead."

New products and services at the megastore would include freshly-cooked foods, electrical goods and home wares, as well as a nail bar and beauty area.

If the borough council gives its approval, the megastore will be one of the first of its kind in the country.

Safeway - encouraged by the success of its first megastore, which opened in Plymstock, Devon, at the end of 2001 - plans to open four similar stores across Britain this year.

A Safeway spokesman said the extension would be built in the store's car park, losing 27 car parking spaces. However, about 500 spaces would be retained.

It is still not clear whether Safeway has plans to create additional parking spaces to make up for those that would be lost in the venture.