TESCO has submitted another planning application to expand its Abingdon store - five months after the first was thrown out.

It faces fierce opposition from the town's Chamber of Commerce, whose members fear a bigger store selling more non-food goods could hit small independent businesses.

Reports by consultants from both Tesco and the Vale of White Horse District Council said expansion at the Marcham Road store, announced earlier this year, would not have a significant impact on the town centre.

But despite recommendation for approval by planning officers, councillors rejected the plans last May.

There are growing concerns about expanding on the site, which is in the River Ock floodplain. The Environment Agency raised concerns in the light of stricter Government guidelines issued after the July floods, when the car park was inundated. A new report from the agency is being drawn up for the council.

Tesco's plan is unchanged from the original proposal. The garden centre would be demolished to make way for an extension to the store and 180 more parking spaces.

But a package of measures has been added to allay the fears of town centre businesses. Tesco promised a week-day shuttle bus to and from the town centre and an Abingdon town centre manager. It said it would display in-store adverts about town centre shops and activities, and contribute towards improvements to Marcham Road.

But chamber of commerce president Jill Carver said: "Such a big store will impact on the vitality and viability of the town centre. There are major retail developments planned in Oxford, and Bicester and Didcot. There is only so much money in people's pockets to go round."

The Vale council has commissioned another investigation from a firm of consultants and has asked the Chamber of Commerce for its views, before a report is prepared for councillors to discuss at the January planning meeting.

Store manager Bill Pilbeam, who started as a petrol pump attendant 27 years ago, said: "It is important that we win planning consent because the store is congested. A bigger store will provide improved facilities that our customers say they would welcome."