Protesters who oppose plans to turn a Knowle pub into a convenience store aired their views at a planning meeting.

Councillors met to discuss an application from Tesco to build 12 parking spaces next to the Friendship pub in Axbridge Road.

They agreed to defer the decision which had been recommended for approval so a site visit can be arranged.

Although the planning application states that the car parking is for the pub, Tesco sent letters to residents in November stating it was in the process of buying the Friendship with a view to turning it into a Tesco Express.

The dozen residents and traders who attended the council's planning meeting yesterday objected to the car parking as potentially dangerous and any new Tesco store as a threat to local businesses.

Peter Read, 60, has lived in Knowle all his life and has run Broadwalk News for 18 years.

He said: "Visibility for entering and exiting is poor, the area allocated for vehicles to manoeuvre is inadequate, the narrowness of the highway at this point in Axbridge Road will lead to congestion, frustration, noise and public nuisance."

Jas Birk, 24, who owns Knowle Convenience Store next door to the pub, said: "If Tesco come in, it would finish me off completely."