A PRESSURE group which has been campaigning against plans for a Waitrose in the town has responded to claims from the Spa's MP that a superstore was backing it.

Action For Droitwich (AFD) has denied Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff's claims that Tesco was supporting the group.

Mr Luff said in Parliament Tesco was behind the £5,000 parish poll in August to discover whether residents wanted a retail development off Kidderminster Road.

Waitrose hopes to build a store off Saltway.

An AFD spokesman said: "We are shocked and disappointed to hear our local MP should choose Parliament to make certain comments that were totally uncalled for in relation to planning and development in Droitwich.

"He chose parliamentary privilege to attack Action For Droitwich and Tesco on the assumption that Tesco had funded AFD for its own interests.

"More outrageously, he said it had helped to fund the parish poll.

"There is not one thread of truth in these allegations and we defy him to produce any proof to substantiate his claim.

"Mr Luff and Wychavon District Council have only considered one option, that of the Saltway car park.

"If this, in their honest opinion, is the best option, what are they so frightened of?"

He added: "If this was the site which can achieve what Droitwich desperately needs, then a public debate would surely confirm it."

Mr Luff said: "Tesco has now confirmed to me that it does indeed have a financial interest in the Kidderminster Road site but its view now is that the land will be developed for housing and not a supermarket.

"What we now need to do is to find other ways of meeting the needs that I accept exist for more large-scale food and retail outlets in the Droitwich area."

Tesco was unavailable for comment.