A MAJOR supermarket firm has withdrawn plans for a new £14m store on council-owned land in Scarborough.

Approval was given in 2011 to replace the Westwood Tesco with a larger store on Dean Road, despite concerns about the possible impact on town centre trade.

Tesco's proposal for the Dean Road store, on a brownfield site, included a new car park and petrol station.

A company spokesman said it had taken the difficult decision not to progress with the plans, and they would now be focusing on providing a better service for customers from the existing store at Westwood, which was opened 25 years ago.

Campaigners opposed to the store had expressed fears about increased congestion on nearby roads and the possible impact on traders in the town centre.

A 5,000-signature strong petition against the plan was handed in to 10 Downing Street in September.

However, planning officials told councillors that any impact on trade in the town centre would be "within acceptable levels".

The council described the news as disappointing and said it would be working on alternative plans for the site.