SUPERMARKET giant Tesco is earmarking a former pub as the venue for its 14th Reading store - just two weeks after submitting a revised bid for its 13th shop.

The grocery company revealed on Wednesday it had bought up the Westside pub in Tilehurst Road, West Reading, to convert into a Tesco Express.

The pub, which closed last week, is within half a mile of Parson's Garage in Oxford Road, where Reading Borough Council is due to consider a re-submitted application to build another Tesco Express.

Both sites are also within a mile of a Tesco Express at the eastern end of Oxford Road and a giant Tesco Extra in Portman Road.

Newsagent Babar Siddique Butt from Butts News in Oxford Road, who last week launched a petition against the Parson's Garage site, said: "It's crazy - there's already two Tesco but now there could be four. What about the small family businesses. It seems the retail game is out of the hands of small traders now."

Binkar Patel, who owns JR Newsagents, in Tilehurst Road, said opening a store there could see his trade decline by 40%, and said: "It's going to make it very hard to survive. The council shouldn't let them build it there." Tesco spokeswoman Melanie Chiswell said the company intended to take advantage of planning laws stipulating companies can convert pubs into convenience stores without seeking permission from the council via the normal channels.

She said: "We hope to open a small Tesco Express on the site and we will be contacting neighbours and local councillors very soon to let them know about our plans which are in the very early stages. However, we want to talk to local people about job opportunities and how we can get involved in the community."

Abbey ward councillor Tony Page was unavailable for comment, but colleague Cllr Paul Gittings, whose Minster ward borders the site said: "This needs more public examination. It's in the middle of a residential area and there will be many traffic concerns. I am completely opposed to them pressing ahead."