SAINSBURY'S stands accused of using "sweeteners" to side-step planning conditions which could stop it building in St John's, a pressure group claims.

In the latest round of store wars, the Evening News learnt yesterday that bosses at the supermarket chain were hoping to knock rivals Tesco out of the battle for the west side of the city by offering Christopher Whitehead High School a £4m revamp.

Tesco has submitted an application to build a supermarket on the Christopher Whitehead site and build a £10m replacement school on the outskirts of the city.

Worcester City Council originally threw out Sainsbury's plans to build in Swanpool Walk, but its decision was overturned in November on appeal.

However, the approval was subject to a number of stringent conditions.

David Birtwhistle, of Save Our St John's, the pressure group opposed to the store, said he believed Sainsbury's could not meet the conditions and was now trying to bypass them by offering "sweeteners" to the city.

"Sainsbury's got its permission, but it was subject to conditions which I am sure it cannot fulfil," said Mr Birtwhistle, of Bransford Road.

"I would assume the long silence since the appeal was won has something to do with the fact that Sainsbury's is having difficulties in meeting the conditions.

"I believe funding would be an attempt to open up another avenue for Sainsbury's so people might be willing for it to renegotiate the conditions.

Cynical

"By offering to revamp the school, it looks as if it's doing something for the city, but I'm afraid I think it's a cynical attempt to win over the public and use sweeteners to get into St John's."

Sainsbury's admitted yesterday it was considering "all options" to secure its new store after city MP Mike Foster confirmed he had been in talks with an unnamed developer to keep the school where it was.

Despite repeated attempts, no one from Tesco, which wants to build just 100 yards away from Sainsbury's site, was available for comment when the Evening News went to press.