ANGRY Malvern Link residents heckled councillors who approved plans for a new supermarket this week.

District councillors were accused of being uncaring and not listening to local people after they voted in favour of Lidl's plan for a store on Worcester Road.

The German supermarket chain first bought the former eurohaus garage site in 2000 and has battled to get permission for a store ever since.

Ian Lawrence, Lidl property manager, said: "We're pleased common sense has prevailed finally as obviously we've been frustrated in the past. Having seen the site in dereliction for the past six years we'd have liked to have seen something done sooner."

He said the store could be open by the middle of next year.

The decision was a blow to Link businesses worried the supermarket will kill trade and cause traffic problems.

Graham Perkins, of Link Antiques, said he was flabbergasted the plans had been approved.

"Without a doubt the council has killed off small traders in the Link," he said.

Mr Perkins has already painted anti -Lidl slogans in white paint on his shop windows. He said he now planned to add anti-council slogans.

At Wednesday night's meeting of Malvern Hills District Council's southern area planning committee, ward member David Houghton-Smith tried to get the decision deferred, but was overruled.

Residents' spokesman Tom Falcon, of nearby Chillerton Court, said a petition had gathered 810 names against the proposal and only 18 for.

He said traffic worries had not been alleviated, as 11,000 vehicle movements a day were recorded in Worcester Road.

"Local people don't understand why there's a need for another food store in the Link," he said.

Planning officers' advice was that the latest plan had overcome objections to the earlier proposal and the scheme was approved by 12 votes to two.

Conditions included a restriction to one delivery lorry a day, which has to arrive in the early morning.

The plan also includes five apartments, which have to be affordable housing.