Protesters fighting plans for a new superstore on their doorsteps have criticised Asda for drumming up support in a different city.

Shoppers at Asda in Hollingbury, Brighton, are being handed leaflets urging them to lobby a senior Worthing councillor.

Asda wants to build a superstore on the site of Worthing College, off Bolsover Road, Worthing. In return for the land, the retail giant has pledged to build a new college next-door.

But the £35 million scheme has sparked protests from thousands of people living near the proposed development.

Borough councillors are meeting tomorrow to consider the application, although the final decision lies with a government planning inspector.

Last week Asda distributed leaflets at Hollingbury, ten miles from Worthing, urging customers to write to Councillor John Livermore, chairman of Worthing Borough Council's development control committee.

The leaflet stated 450 jobs would be created and new sports facilities provided.

But Rod Winter, secretary of the Field Place Area Residents' Association, said: "We cannot stop Asda from doing this. We just hope councillors do not take too much notice of a survey carried out under these circumstances. The figures are skewed."

Mr Winter said protesters were not against Asda, just the prospect of a superstore on an "unsuitable" site.

Protesters believe the store would ruin the nearby Strand shopping precinct and cause traffic chaos.

But the college argues it desperately needs new facilities and this is the only realistic way of gettin gthme.

Nobody from Asda was available for comment.