THIS is the first image of the new Tesco foodstore set to bring hundreds of jobs to Fareham.

As reported in later editions on the Daily Echo yesterday, the supermarket giant has unveiled plans to build a store in Fareham Town Centre.

Council chiefs have welcomed the proposals which will face scrutiny at a public exhibition in Fareham Shopping Centre tomorrow and Friday.

The 4.5-acre derelict site at Quay Street has been allocated by the council for retail for several years. The Tesco proposal will bring at least 200 jobs to the area.

However, Southampton and Fareham Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SFCCI) have warned that, although this will go some way in helping to revamp the area, smaller retailers may find themselves worse off.

Jimmy Chestnutt, director general of SFCCI, said: "The proposal by Tesco to build on this current brownfield land in Fareham could be good news from an employment point of view, creating many jobs.

"However, there remains the possibility that this could have a detrimental impact on other retailers in the town centre whose customers have to pay for parking as well as possibly creating traffic issues, especially for the A32."