A SIZEABLE crowd has gathered under a Ledbury landmark in protest of plans by two retailers to build superstores in their town.

Ledbury Town Councillors are debating plans tonight to fund an independent impact retail study into the effects of an out of town superstore into High Street trade, as suggested by Bill Wiggin MP.

The debate - which comes two months after Tesco announced plans to relocate to a larger store on Leadon Way - has intensified after Sainsburys announced rival plans to build opposite the Ledbury Welding site.

Councillors were shown the strength of local opposition this evening when around 130 people gathered under the Market House in a silent lobby of the council.

The news also coincides with an announcement on Radio 4 that Ledbury High Street is in the running for an award as the nation's best.

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