A bitter supermarket war - which has already seen rival chains fight an extraordinary High Court battle - is set to be re-ignited, it emerged today.

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

In a move sure to spark fury among rivals Tesco and Somerfield, councillors are expected to give the scheme the green light when they meet 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 on land at Willowbeck Road.

A precedent-setting ruling from 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 existing High Street store would be shut down and its 120-strong workforce transferred to the new 40,000 sq ft site. A further 30 positions are also 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's chamber of trade is strongly protesting and claims High Street business would be depleted by 26 per cent, with shops closing down 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 plans to reduce the 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 the scheme will benefit Northallerton and is recommending it for approval.