THE store wars in Worcester continue today with Tesco hoping to persuade the Local Plan Inspector to back its plans to build in St John's.

The supermarket giant is pushing to build a new store on the site of the Christopher Whitehead school, while rival chain Sainsbury's has been granted permission to build on the site of the St John's leisure centre.

However, the Local Plan only has room for the development of one large food store to serve the St John's district.

In evidence it is due to submit today, Tesco will ask the inspector to support a supermarket development within the St John's catchment area, rather than having a specific allocated site, which Sainsbury's has.

"It is accepted there is need for a new food store to serve the west side of Worcester, but it's a question of detail about what sort of store is best," said Richard Petrie, Tesco's corporate affairs manager.

"The function of any store must be to enhance St John's as the key shopping centre on the west side of the Worcester and integrate existing facilities and resources for the benefit of the area as a whole."