TESCO, which recently announced plans to move to Ross-on-Wye, has its eye on another Herefordshire site.

The supermarket giant met with leaders of Bromyard Town Council at the end of March, when it ‘showed an interest’ in bringing a store to the area, according to council clerk Mike Cresswell.

At the moment, the majority of Bromyard residents do their shopping at two local Co-op stores.

Councillor Tony Burt said he had not yet made his mind up as to whether it will be a good or bad thing for the town, but the debate had already started on social networking site Facebook.

Charlene Taylor posted on Bromyard.Info’s page: “I don't believe that small supermarkets have a dramatic effect on independent shops.

"Those of us who use independent shops do so because we prefer the personal service and quality of merchandise.”

While Pete Andrews said: “The Co- Op certainly need competition but not at the expense of local businesses.”

Plans to bring a Tesco to Ledbury were met with fierce opposition from local residents, who warned that the supermarket would take away from local businesses.

Councillor Gary Swinford commented on Bromyard.Info, saying that the Tesco application in Ledbury caused ‘a lot of angst and unrest’ and that people should strive to avoid that happening in Bromyard.