PLANS for a multi-million pound extension to expand the Tesco Extra store in Leyland by a third of its current size are in the pipeline.

Tesco chiefs have already been in talks with South Ribble Borough Council planning bosses about building a 180-space two-deck car park at the Southern Towngate store and expanding the shop by 23,000sq ft.

The development is expected to create about 40 jobs and comes as planning bosses approved a proposal to build a Morrisons supermarket, at Farington Business Park, three weeks ago.

Although council chiefs have not received a formal planning application from Tesco, initial plans have been drawn up.

A spokesman for the firm, which currently has 1,878 stores across the UK and operates in 12 countries worldwide, said: "We want to provide more retail space for our customers.

"We will extend to the rear and side and it will give more jobs and more choice.

"We are also looking at putting a mezzanine floor in and moving the cafe upstairs to create even more space."

But some residents, whose homes overlook the site, fear the plan could increase youth nuisance. Sharon Greenwood, 36, who has lived in nearby Fox Lane for nine years, said problems with troublesome teenagers started two years ago, when the store was built.

"There are always kids hanging around the car park, making a nuisance of themselves, and cars going round. It's like a speedway.

"A two-storey car park will only make things worse. It's giving them somewhere to hide and mess around in."

Other householders fear the new 'monster' store would be an eyesore in the historic area of the town.

Florence Walmsley, 60, of Church Road, said: "I'll definitely be taking action over this when the application is submitted.

"I don't want to look at a multi-storey car park.

"A group of us fought plans to build 13 apartments and won. We'll fight this as well."

Pensioner John Kelly, of nearby Sandy Lane, said: "There's been trees put up to try and stop the view of the supermarket.

"I'm not happy about this and I'll be contacting the council to find out more."