Cambridgeshire villagers protest over Tesco plan

Villagers in Cambridgeshire have begun a campaign against plans to open a Tesco Express store in a former pub.

The supermarket chain has applied to convert the old Black Bull in High Street, Somersham, near St Ives.

A Facebook page has about 220 members and a demonstration was held next to the site.

Campaigners claim the store will increase traffic and ruin business for other shops. But Tesco said its store would give people more choice.

A Tesco spokesman said: "We are proposing a small convenience store.

"We would create around 20 new jobs and invest in a building that might otherwise be derelict.

"We expect it to be a busy and popular shop - but where people have concerns we are keen to work with the local council to take any action to resolve them."

The village has a convenience store, with a Co-Op and a Waitrose about five miles away in St Ives. Tesco has a supermarket in Huntingdon, which is about 10 miles (16 km) from Somersham.