PLANS for a £10m sports retail store, which could create 50 jobs, has suffered a setback.

A public inquiry is to be held before the Government will grant permission for sports retail giant Decathlon to build a 50,000sq ft store at the Portrack Interchange Retail Park, Stockton.

Stockton Borough Council was minded to approve the development, but because of the development's size it had to be referred to the North-East Government office.

Decathlon will have to wait for at least year to find out whether the development is approved.

The French company already has 240 stores across Europe, including three in the UK.

It sells equipment for more than 60 different sports, including horse riding, canoeing, skiing, fly fishing, basketball, football and tennis.

If the Stockton scheme goes ahead, it will provide parking for 320 cars. There will be a healthy living caf within the complex.

Customers are encouraged to take equipment off the shelves and try it out. In some stores, Decathlon offers repairs or upgrades to sports equipment.

A spokesman said the company was "disappointed" by the Government's decision to review the application.