TRADERS have reacted with anger after plans for a controversial new town-centre superstore were recommended for approved.

Bosses at Tesco have applied for planning permission to Hyndburn Council to build the new £32m supermarket in Accrington.

And planners at the authority have recommended that councillors on the planning committee approve the scheme when it is discussed next week.

One local businessman said he was "spitting mad" at hearing the news.

Objections to the plan have been lodged by the local chamber of trade along with the Arndale Shopping Centre, The Co-operative Group and Sainsbury's.

Even the council's planning report said that the superstore may have a negative impact on businesses.

A report to the planning committee reads: "It is clear that the proposed store will have a large range of impacts some of which may be considered less than desirable."

Tesco, which already operates a Tesco Metro shop in the town, hopes to create 450 jobs at the 88,000 square feet store off Eagle Street.

A spokesman for Tesco said research has shown that Hyndburn residents were spending £100million year in supermarkets outside of the borough.

The spokesman said: "In Accrington there is some feeling that a lot of people travel out of town to do their shopping.

"This new store would help bring it back into the town."

But Ray James, asset manager at the Arndale Centre, said he would fight the plans.

He said: "I am shocked to hear that the plans have been recommended for approval and I hope that is not the final decision."

In responses to Hyndburn Council, the local Chamber of Trade said the development would be "harmful to the town centre".

The Co-op, which has a store in nearby Great Harwood, said the new Tesco's would be "likely to have a significant affect on the vitality and viability of Great Harwood town centre".

Ian Smith, president of Hyndburn Chamber of Trade, said many shopkeepers in Accrington were frightened that the supermarket would "kill off" the small businesses in the town.

Mr Smith, who runs a butcher's shop in Accrington Market Hall, said: "For small businesses this is a worrying time and we will speak out against the plans at next week's meeting."

Bosses of Sainsbury's, who are looking to site a supermarket in Accrington, have also objected.

If the store gets the go-ahead Tesco will pump nearly £1.5million into the local economy."

That includes £412,000 for improvements to the local road network, £450,000 towards town centre regeneration projects and £400,000 to be used towards improvements to the railway station and a new bus interchange.