Concerned residents in Congresbury have given a resounding 'no' to proposals to build homes and a new convenience store on the site of a derelict pub in the village.

More than 100 people packed into a public meeting at the Old School Rooms to have their say on a scheme which would see 11 affordable homes and a new convenience store built on the site of The Bell Inn at Bristol Road.

Developer Land and Buildings has put forward draft proposals to build the two, three and four bedroom homes and a 4,499sq ft convenience store on the site of the former pub, more recently known as Cromwells.

The homes, likely to be developed in partnership with a housing association, would be built where the main pub is and the store put on the garden area at the side.

But residents say the new development would cause extra traffic on the already busy Kent Road behind the pub and put at risk the future of the village's existing shops.

A petition has been launched against the proposals, which has already attracted hundreds of signatures from people concerned about the impact on village businesses.

No details have been made public about who may run the store, but names such as Co-op, Tesco Express and Budgens have been mooted.

Villager Mike Rendu, aged 65, said: "We have a great precinct with good shops and I am concerned that if we have a large convenience store here it will destroy our local shops."

Carol Lloyd, of Smallway, said: "There are around 3,500 residents in Congresbury and we already have two convenience stores, a bakery, post office, butchers and a range of good shops."

Alice Richards of Hill Park, Congresbury, said Kent Road could not take any more traffic.

No formal application has yet been submitted to North Somerset Council, but one is expected in the next few weeks.