A supermarket chain has been accused of trying to wear the people down in its bid to establish a store in an area of Darlington.

Tesco has already had two applications for the proposed mini-store on North Road rejected by borough councillors. And now, as well as appealing the second application, it has submitted further revised plans.

A protest group in Harrowgate Hill and North Road claims Tesco's plans do not differ from its previous applications.

The 'Say No to Tesco' group has written to Darlington Borough Council to raise concerns about the scheme for the proposed Tesco Express store.

The company submitted its third set of plans for the former petrol station site last week. Although they have yet to be revealed to the public, the group claims there are no significant changes.

Ward councillor Gill Cartwright said: "What Tesco is doing is trying to wear down people's resistance. They are pressurising the local authority, the residents of Harrowgate Hill and the planning department."

Mark Burton, a Labour councillor for the ward, said: "They have already been rejected, appealed and been rejected again. They are determined to be on that site."

A spokesman for the campaigners said the council should reject the proposals immediately under the Town and Country Planning Act.

She said: "We have stated that under the Town and Country Planning Act they can defer any more new applications for two years on the grounds of repeated applications."

The spokesman added: "We don't need a Tesco. We have enough convenience stores in that area."

The council received the plans last week and the public will be able to view them from today.

The petrol station closed in 2005. The site is now derelict and boarded up and has attracted some anti-social behaviour.

But local opinion is divided on the possible future of the site. Other suggestions have included flats or a community centre.

A council spokesman said planning officers would be reviewing the plans in full detail before deciding on their course of action.

Tesco was unavailable for comment