Supermarket giant Tesco has announced proposals for a new 32,500 sq ft store in Kingsbridge.

Tesco, the UK's biggest supermarket chain, said the store design would be environmentally friendly.

The store, which will be built on Cookworthy Road Car Park, will have solar panels, plant trees and rain-harvesting drains.

The development will also include car parking space for more than 370 vehicles.

Detailed plans will be made public during an exhibition in the spring, according to the group.

Tesco, which accounts for nearly a third of the UK grocery market, has already received outline planning approval for the store.

Tesco spokesman: "Existing food retail and parking facilities are inadequate in Kingsbridge and inevitably people go shopping in Totnes or Plymouth. This has dramatic consequences on local shops in Fore Street."

"Existing food retail and parking facilities are inadequate in Kingsbridge and inevitably people go shopping in Totnes or Plymouth. This has dramatic consequences on local shops in Fore Street," said a Tesco spokesman.

But campaigners have protested against the plans, saying the new store would harm the character of the town and damage small businesses.

South Hams District Council says it has received a number of complaints from worried residents.

"If Tesco is allowed to build a store in our town, then Kingsbridge will lose its character and uniqueness forever," one objector said.

"The impact on the town commercially will be considerable, both for the existing supermarkets like Smiles and Somerfield and for shops in Fore Street. The shop will also have a negative impact on local residents, who will be overlooking the site," another commented.

Another said: "Tesco sells everything from food to computers, clothing, DVDs, white goods and books. If the store is built, there won't be any need to visit shops in Fore Street."

The Kingsbridge and Salcombe Chamber of Commerce have also expressed their concerns about a Tesco store in the town.

Paul Dorey, the chamber's chairman, said: "Collectively our members employ more people, pay more rates and contribute far more to the local economy than Tesco ever will. We therefore ask the council to do their best to accede to our requests."

Figures suggest that nearly one pound in every three goes into a Tesco till. The supermarket now ranks alongside Wal-Mart and France's Carrefour as one of the world's largest retailers.

Somerfield currently operate the only supermarket in the town, but their monopoly is coming to an abrupt end.