Fledgling Oxford Road trader Tesco has spoken out against plans to open Tesco Expresses across the town. The chain wants to open a Tesco Express store just a stone's throw from a giant Tesco Extra store on the former Battle Hospital site and another in Emmer Green, with more to follow across the town.

A Tesco Extra spokesman complained: "I only found out the news this morning. Tesco Express is like a cancer that is draining the life out of Reading. We are desperate to establish ourselves here and as a new business we are extremly vulnerable to competition. How on earth do they think a global monopoly is going to stay in business if Tesco Express keep opening stores and taking away our business?"

A council press officer told us that their hands were tied when it came to preventing the developments: "Sorry people. We need Tesco's money under section 106 of the Town & Country Planning Act to pay for our pet projects. If we refuse them planning permission, our budget is screwed."