A supermarket and three town centre shops in Wallingford could be demolished to make way for a massive housing development.

The Waitrose store and the other properties -- Blockbuster Video, Care dry cleaners and Brooking Travel -- are all marked for demolition in a plan submitted by Manchester-based Co-op Group Property, which owns the premises.

The plan has caused an outcry in Wallingford with town and district councillors and traders determined to oppose it.

They all want to keep the premises in St Martin's Street as shops and want a cheap supermarket to go into the Waitrose building.

No-one was available from the Co-op to comment on the outline planning application for housing, which landed on the town council's doorstep on December 14.

On December 17 a Conservation Area planning application to demolish 12-20 St Martin's Street was released.

Speaking for local residents living behind the properties, Linda Shoebridge, of Millbrook Close, said: "This is causing a very great deal of worry.

"We don't want the buildings to be replaced by housing -- we feel it would be a disaster for Wallingford."

Residents, traders, Wallingford town and South Oxfordshire District councils all want another supermarket to go into the Waitrose building when the store finally moves into its proposed new premises at the Lamb crossroads.

Town and district council member Denis Strange said: "Wallingford needs a cheaper supermarket as competition for Waitrose. People need a choice and the present Waitrose premises would be ideal."

No-one at Blockbuster, Care or Brooking Travel knew anything of the plan.

Brooking manager Sarah Cleall said: "We've only just had this whole building refurbished.

"This has come as a complete shock."