A New Forest superstore has won a three-year battle to expand.

Members of New Forest District Council planning and development control committee approved a revised scheme submitted by Tesco, New Milton.

Councillors rejected a previous proposal in March after objectors claimed the store's expansion would threaten small shops in the town centre.

Tesco lodged an appeal with the government's planning inspectorate in Bristol. Two months ago top planning officers warned members that their reason for refusing permission would be hard to defend. A new application was approved at this week's meeting of the committee.

A report said: "In March, expert consultants advised that the extension would not have a significant impact on the viability of the town centre. Members did not accept the consultants' advice and refused permission.

The difficulty and cost of defending the decision was explained in September, when members decided to invite a new application and offer no evidence to support this reason for refusal."

The committee's support for the latest proposal was also based on Tesco's decision to modify the original scheme. Two footpaths from the supermarket to Mendip Close and Glengarry have been deleted from the plan after New Milton Town Council claimed they could jeopardise the security of residents.

Tesco also agreed to move a proposed recycling area away from neighbouring homes.

Ben Earwicker's proposal to reject the scheme failed to attract a seconder and the application was approved, subject to conditions. Tesco has been seeking consent to expand the store since its initial application was submitted in 1999.