Superstore managers have spoken out to allay fears that a landmark flint wall has been lost forever.

The wall was demolished as part of plans to build a new Tesco store on the site of the old gasworks in Church Road, Hove.

Tesco insisted the front of the new building should be clearly visible to its customers from the main road.

However, it agreed to rebuild part of the attractive Sussex flint feature elsewhere on the site.

Traders and campaigners fear the flints have been crushed and used as hardcore on the site but Tesco is adamant they have not.

Bill Aldridge, whose electrical goods shop is opposite the new store, said: "We saw a couple of JCBs knocking the wall down and there was a stonecrusher on site.

"I have had a look around and I can't see the old flints anywhere and the contractors refused point-blank to show me or tell me where they were.

"We were told the original wall would be rebuilt but they will find that a bit hard to do if the flints have been destroyed or disposed of."

Tesco spokeswoman Catherine Edwards said: "The flint wall has not been disposed of.

"It was a condition of us getting planning permission that we could demolish it and that it would be rebuilt on another part of the site.

"The flints have been retained and we are in negotiation with Brighton and Hove City Council about where it should go."

Tuesday August 12, 2003