RESIDENTS are angry at plans to build a new discount store in the centre of Leyland.

Discount chain Aldi is hoping to buy land in Westgate and transform it into their latest shop.

Representatives from the company called a public meeting for locals to reveal their plans.

Mrs Barbara Anderson, of Westgate, said: "We don't need an Aldi. It's going to badly affect Westgate's volume of traffic. It's already a major problem which no council has yet addressed."

At the meeting Aldi chiefs said they had yet to apply for planning permission from South Ribble Borough Council, and do not own the land, at the junction of Westgate and Towngate -- currently used by a number of businesses including a former petrol station.

But they say the landlord is keen to sell and a planning application is likely to be submitted within the next few weeks.

If the application is passed, the food chain is hoping to develop the one-acre site into a store employing 14 people, with an 86-space car park.

But residents of Westgate say the proposed store -- just yards from a Tesco Extra supermarket built last year -- will result in traffic chaos. And they fear delivery lorries will be unable to get into the store.

Now Jim Richards, of Westgate, said an up-do-date traffic survey needs to be carried out before any plans are put into action.

He said: "With the problems of access why are they suggesting putting a store where the vast majority aren't going to be able to get in?

"I would like to see a proper survey carried out in Westgate to evaluate what the true flow is -- speed, flows and direction."

During the meeting Aldi said residents' comments would be taken into consideration. John McFarland, property director for the firm, said: "We have still got quite a lot of work to do before we submit a planning application."