A supermarket has taken a verbal battering from a chip shop owner who claims the launch of his new business was ruined.

David Pyle, of Charlotte's fish and chop and restaurant in Regency Mews, Northallerton, said bosses of the neighbouring Tesco store gave him just two days' notice that the supermarket and its car park would be closing for three weeks for building work.

Mr Pyle, who started the new venture two weeks ago, said access to his premises was blocked by the work.

He and his wife, Zabeena, spent £5,000 on the opening of the restaurant but said the car park closure had reduced the number of customers dramatically. Two staff had been laid off as a result.

"We got a letter on January 3, but it was dated December 21. They did apologise and said they didn't realise we were open, as the shop was closed for about two years before we took it over," he said.

Tesco apologised for the inconvenience and said it had managed to cut the car park closure to just three weeks, despite Hambleton District Council initially wanting six.

A spokesman said the expected increase in Tesco shoppers would also benefit traders in Regency Mews.

"When the old store is demolished, there will be 40 per cent more parking after three weeks and after six weeks there will be nearly 100 more parking spaces. Obviously the little shops will benefit from that," he said.