Protesters today criticised research published by retail giants in support of controversial plans for a new supermarket in Worthing.

Asda, which is expecting its multi-million pound scheme for a new store to go before borough planners in May, has produced research which states the majority of people in Worthing are in favour of the proposed store on grounds at Worthing College.

The Field Place Residents' Association (FPA), formed in protest at the plans, has criticised Asda's General Consensus report, which describes the campaigners as being motivated by "understandable self interest".

The company stands by its report, which it says has been produced under market research rules.

But FPA chairwoman Alison Cornell says the firm has shot itself in the foot because the number of association members against the scheme far outweighs the number of people the report says support it.

The college, in Bolsover Road, Worthing, stands to gain deluxe new buildings to replace its ageing classrooms if planners approve a 45,000 sqft supermarket with 500 parking bays at the site.

The move would also allow for upgraded sports facilities for students and the rest of the town.

Asda's report said: "If the proposals do not go ahead, the college will continue to operate in its current, increasingly unsuitable premises and the opportunity to provide first class educational facilities to future generations of Worthing children will have been lost.

"A majority of local people recognise this and support the proposals."

FPA members not only fear the detrimental effect the supermarket could have on local shops but object to the congestion, parking problems and noise and light pollution it might cause.

Attacking the statistics featured in the report, Mrs Cornell said that Asda questioned 500 local people.

She said: "A total of 52 per cent of the people said they would be likely to use the store and 52 per cent of 500 is just 260 people. We have more than 400 members in FPA and, based on this, just the membership of our association beats their submission."

An Asda spokesman said, under accepted guidelines by The Market Research Society, the number of responses to the surveys were "well above what should be expected in direct-mail research".