In just two weeks, Tesco's colonisation of central Hove will be complete.

The new Tesco Metro at Palmeira Grande, Western Road, will ensure few householders in Hove will be more than a ten-minute stroll from a Tesco outlet.

The latest store is due to open on February 16, creating dozens of jobs on the site of the former Michael Norman Antiques boutique.

Tesco, which is the UK's largest private sector employer with more than 225,000 workers nationwide, already runs three other stores in Hove.

These are the Tesco Express outlets in Denmark Villas and Dyke Road plus the larger supermarket in Church Road, which opened last year.

There is also a shop in Portslade and a flagship superstore at the Holmbush Centre in Shoreham.

Plans have been lodged for a 33 per cent expansion of the Holmbush store.

While the latest shop is good news for some, particularly those without cars, traders are worried about the knock-on effects for other businesses.

One nearby letting agent said: "A lot of the traders are small businesses and are worried about the new store.

"When the supermarket opened in Church Road it killed local trade because people were not spilling out on to George Street.

"Budgens will be hit quite hard because they open quite late but people have to pay for that. I would expect Tesco will also open late and be cheaper."

Keith Bryden, chairman of the Hove Business Association, said the store's arrival would be a "wake-up call" for businesses and customers would have to use other stores more to ensure their survival.

Nobody was available for comment at Tesco yesterday.

Meanwhile, the antiques shop's redevelopment is progressing.

Estate agent Glenn Mishon of Mishon Mackay, who is marketing homes on the site, said: "The flats are going pretty well and almost 50 per cent are sold or reserved. The building will not be finished until the end of April so people will start moving in then."