People in Hove can be excused for thinking that supermarket giant Tesco has taken over the place.

Whereas a few years ago the firm was not represented, soon it will have no fewer than four outlets.

A new supermarket is about to open in Church Road. There are already two smaller ones, near Hove station and in Dyke Road. Another is planned for Western Road.

What's more, Tesco has for 21 years had a successful store in Station Road, Portslade, just a stone's throw from Boundary Road in Hove.

Some small shopkeepers have complained about the supermarket invasion and say they cannot compete with such a big outfit.

But specialist stores offering services and goods even Tesco cannot manage should still be able to thrive and prosper.

The moaners should remember that Tesco started as a small outfit more than 70 years ago and expanded because it sold goods more cheaply that its neighbours.

If Hove can boast so many Tesco stores, it must be because thousands of its people want to shop in them.