Shoppers are up in arms after Morrisons was refused permission to expand one of its most popular stores.

The £10million investment at the Witham supermarket was rejected on the grounds it could damage Tesco’s town centre store and plans to revamp the ageing Newlands Shopping Centre.

It would have created 50 jobs and Morrisons confirmed it would also have been willing to give £150,000 towards other improvements in the town.

There are now fears taxpayers could be left picking up the legal costs if the retailer were to appeal against Braintree Council planning committee's decision.

Full report in today's Witham and Braintree Times.