SHOPPERS and stallholders have accused supermarket giant Safeway of threatening the future of smaller retailers.

People who live and shop in the Cockerton area of Darlington are worried that their local Safeway store is attempting to monopolize trade in their shopping area.

Shoppers in Cockerton began contacting The Northern Echo last week, when it emerged that the supermarket had set up stalls outside the store to sell fruit and vegetables.

They were concerned that the move was a ploy by Safeway to directly compete with smaller greengrocers in the Cockerton area, who also display their fruit and vegetables outside their shops.

Six months ago, the store began selling newspapers.

Now retailers in Cockerton have criticised the supermarket chain, accusing it of trying to poach customers who regularly use smaller the family-run greengrocers and newsagents.

Paul Watson, who runs the Farmers' Market greengrocers next door to the Safeway store, with wife Sue, said the store chain was ruining the community spirit in Cockerton.

Mr Watson, 48, who has run his shop for two-years, said: "I have grown up and worked in the Cockerton area all my life, and there has always been a brilliant sense of community. But that is in danger of being lost because of the greed of Safeway.

"They have put groceries outside the stall, like we do, and begun selling newspapers, which is not what supermarkets do.

"If we don't speak up, the supermarket will just swallow Cockerton up, and we will lose the local family-run businesses in the community, which are so important."

One pensioner, who has lived in Cockerton all her life but wished to remain anonymous, said: "I think it is disgraceful that Safeway are trying to stamp out local retailers which have been here for years.

"I have shopped in Cockerton for years and it has always had a wonderful community feel, but we are in danger of losing that if Safeway continues like this."

A spokeswoman for Safeway denied the company was attempting to monopolize trade in the Cockerton area, but said that the business had a right to compete for customers.

She said: "We are trying to go back to basics and give our customers a more traditional shopping experience."