PLANS to extend a supermarket could create 100 jobs - but there are fears of traffic chaos.

Councillors for the Ingleby Barwick ward are in talks with residents to get their views on the proposed Tesco development.

Stockton Borough Council has received a planning application to expand the Ingleby Barwick store by about 40 per cent with additional parking.

The chain took over the former Safeway store from Morrisons in 2004 and has already increased the workforce from 200 to about 300.

Tesco wants to increase the store from 3,214sq metres to 5,587sq metres with an additional 199 car parking spaces, taking the total to more than 600.

Councillor David Harrington, representing Ingleby Barwick Independent Society (Ibis), said there are already considerable problems with traffic in the area.

"A traffic model is currently under way, identifying an already heavily congested area.

"I hope this is addressed in the planning application, because a larger supermarket would be beneficial, but not the added congestion."

Ward councillors from Ibis were due to meet with residents last night to discuss the proposals.