A supermarket war - which has already seen rival chains fight a High Court battle - is set to be reignited, it emerged yesterday.

Nearly five years after first coming up with the plans, Safeway is on the verge of gaining approval for a new superstore in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

In a move certain to spark outrage among rivals Tesco and Somerfield, councillors are expected to approve the scheme on Thursday.

The row hit the headlines in 1998 after Somerfield succeeded in a High Court bid to quash the approval given by Hambleton District Council for Safeway to build in Willowbeck Road.

A precedent-setting ruling by Mr Justice Dyson said an officials' report may have misled councillors when they decided to allow planning permission.

The case pitted Somerfield against the council, which was backed by Safeway and Tesco, over two days of legal argument.

If the scheme is approved this time, Safeway's High Street store would be shut and its 120-strong workforce transferred to the new 40,000sq ft site.

A further 30 jobs are likely to be created.

Somerfield has indicated it is prepared to fight all the way again, as it believes the development would have an unacceptable impact on town centre trade.

Tesco, which has only recently unveiled a new look after a huge refurbishment of its East Road store, is also objecting to the proposals.

Northallerton Chamber of trade is protesting strongly and says High Street business would be depleted by 26 per cent, with shops closing and jobs being lost.

Tony Howard, of Lewis and Cooper, said: "Northallerton will become a wreck, like so many other towns up and down the country."

Approval could also scupper proposals to reduce regular traffic chaos at Low Gates level crossing, according to the Strategic Rail Authority, which wants a decision deferred for up to six months.

However, the council's head of development control, Maurice Cann, believes that the scheme will benefit Northallerton.

He is recommending it for approval.