Roll on the Tesco Revolution I say (The Tesco takeover, The Argus, September 8).

For years, those of us living in Central Hove and Brunswick and not owning a car have faced a distinctly unappetising choice when it comes to our food shopping.

Basically, it's a toss-up between the over-priced Waitrose on Western Road, which - despite the various price guarantees - is undeniably expensive.

The alternative is the profoundly depressing Co-Op on Blatchington Road - best avoided if you are feeling a bit low or you may feel like slashing your wrists.

With gloomy lighting, miserable staff, half-empty shelves, its fruit and veg looks as if it has been rejected by every other supermarket chain. It's a sorry experience.

The Co-Op management can have no complaints at being punished for their complacency and at last a competitor has spotted the huge potential.

The only surprise for me is what has taken Tesco so long?

Of course I have a certain amount of sympathy for small shop-owners like John Hanna, who runs Newstop in Palmeira Square and was quoted in your story.

Traders like him are bound to be affected but, hopefully, he will be cushioned to a certain extent because he does strive to provide a personal service.

But then if you can't offer personal service in a shop the size of a cupboard, there is something very wrong. And there are plenty of shopowners in Brighton and Hove who don't.

-Peter Lilley, Hove