Supermarket chain Waitrose has defended a sketch of its proposed Wallingford superstore following complaints that it was misleading.

An artist's impression of the planned 42,000 sq ft superstore was published in the Oxford Mail's sister paper, The Herald, last week alongside residents' views about the design.

Lesley Vernon, whose shop Elements Menswear faces the proposed development site, noticed the sketch did not include several shops in St Martin's Street, including Lloyds Chemist and Buckell & Ballard estate agents.

She said: "I think this artist's impression gives a wrong impression. It shows the new Waitrose too far towards the Market Square and misses three shops."

She added: "I'm very much in favour of the development and the new plans but the people of Wallingford should be told that the artist's impression is incorrect. What's the point of having an artist's impression that is wrong?"

Richard Neale, of Sayer Milward Terrace, Wallingford, said: "The drawing seems to be inaccurate. It's worrying they have shown a distorted view."

He said the more telling facade was along High Street, which risked being "repetitive and drab".

A spokesman for Waitrose said: "The sketch published is an artist's impression. Its purpose is to show how the proposed Waitrose branch fits in sympathetically with the rest of the town centre. In particular, it illustrates the scale of the new shop in relation to existing buildings."

More detailed plans can be seen at South Oxfordshire District Council's offices, in Crowmarsh.