Plans for a new Tesco store in Chatham have been rejected by councillors.

Just a week after announcing the closure of its superstore in The Brook, the supermarket giant saw its plan for a Metro shop on the E-Cars showroom in Luton High Street refused by a majority of 14-1.

Previously more than 500 people signed a petition against the plans and the planning committee agreed to a site visit.

During Wednesday’s planning committee meeting, ward councillor Christine Godwin (Lab) insisted that the proposal should be refused because of safety fears in what is a "bottle-neck road".

Increased traffic and lorries, concerns emergency services would not get through, the shop being a magnet for late night drinkers, and its effect on independent traders were all given as grounds for refusal.

For more details, coverage of the night and reaction pick up a copy of the Medway Messenger on Monday.