NO supermarket chains have shown any interest in coming into the Kingfisher Centre to replace Tesco, which left last year.

The announcement came during a Town Centre Partnership meeting after centre owners Thornfield quashed rumours another "basket store" would be coming.

Tesco closed in the centre on Christmas Eve, despite strong opposition from townsfolk and Redditch Council.

During the meeting, Pc Robin White, of Redditch police, said: "I have heard a few rumours, hopefully positive ones, of another 'basket store'."

But Tim Rylance, of Thornfield, said: "I will put the cards on the table. We have talked to national supermarket operators and we just can't get anyone interested in coming back into the town centre.

"We will be operating a food hall which will create this effect."

Meanwhile, Kingfisher Centre shoppers wanting to spend a penny will have to "potty" along to temporary facilities during a major revamp of the Evesham Walk loos.

The facelift comes as part of a major £60 million revamp of the centre and work on transforming Evesham Walk to make way for an extension of JJB Sports and TK Maxx is well under way.

Ballast Construction, which is carrying out work on Evesham Walk, will be installing viewing holes so shoppers can see what's going on behind the scenes.

And during the next two weeks, toilets will be relocated onto Walford Walk near to the double doors by the former entrance to Tesco bakery.