A LEADING supermarket chain is planning to extend and modernise one of its large stores and potentially close one of its smaller stores in Bicester.

Tesco began its three-day public consultation on plans for the store in Pingle Drive and the future of the store in Sheep Street yesterday, but has given assurances that no jobs will be lost.

Tesco's corporate affairs manager, Felix Gummer, said: "One of the proposals is for the Metro store in Sheep Street to close and the square footage will be transferred over to the Pingle Drive store. No jobs would be lost. Everyone from the town centre store would be given first refusal of the jobs available at the new store."

Shoppers and high-street traders have given a mixed reaction to Tesco's proposals, with some for and some against.

Julie Daniels, spokesman for Somerfield, in Market Square, said: "Competition inevitably brings positive benefits to local customers. We are committed to serving the communities in which we operate and to working with other high-street traders for the benefit of local customers."

Butcher Brad Kershaw, who works at Clays, in Sheep Street, said: "This will make it even worse, as if we are not struggling enough as it is. Back-street shops are deteriorating already."

The public consultation is taking place in the Pingle Drive store car park from 10am and 6pm today and 10am and 2pm tomorrow.

Mr Gummer added: "Bicester faces an exciting future. In addition to the new town centre development, there are plans for a large expansion near our Pingle Drive store. It gives us an opportunity to address the future of the Sheep Street Metro store, which we would like to redevelop. We believe this site could assist in the forthcoming town centre development."

It is not yet known whether the Sheep Street store will be redeveloped as part of Bicester's £70m scheme, or if the store will be closed - a possibility that Tesco is not ruling out.

Mr Gummer added: "We are aware that the existing store in Pingle Drive needs extending and modernising. Our customers repeatedly tell us about the store's congestion. Our consultation outlines our proposals and will encourage local people to become involved in the process."

There are five Tesco stores in Bicester. They are located in Hart Place, Holm Square, Pingle Drive (which also has a filling station), Bowmont Square and Shakespeare Drive. There is also a Tesco Express in Nightingale Place.

Bicester Chamber of Commerce spokesman Ben Jackson said: "The existing Tesco is too small - but any development should try to solve traffic jams."