SAINSBURY'S has confirmed it will challenge Worcester City Council's refusal to allow a supermarket in St John's.

A spokesman for the company said it would contact the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol today and was confident its proposals were in line with both local and national planning policies.

The council had objected to the scheme, at Swanpool Walk, on two grounds.

It said the plans could pose traffic problems and was cramped, with councillors describing the scheme as "squeezing a quart into a pint pot".

Stuart McNidder, the council's director of development services, said he had been notified informally of the company's intention to fight the refusal decision.

"I'm surprised it's taken them so long," he said.

"The Planning Inspectorate will come to us with some dates and we'll have to talk with Sainsbury's about that.

"I expect the appeal will be heard in the autumn, probably September."

Mr McNidder said negotiations were taking place between Sainsbury's, the city council and Worcestershire County Council to agree the details that would be contested at the appeal hearing.

Meanwhile, Asda is preparing to take on Worcester City Council in July.

It wants to build a store at the city's former cattle market, but has been turned down.