A supermarket giant has taken a step back from its plan to build a store in Ashtead so it can focus on traffic concerns.

The Advertiser can reveal that Tesco has decided not to register its appeal with the Planning Inspectorate to put a 12,000 sq ft store with nine flats above in The Street.

Instead a spokesman for the supermarket chain has said it will complete "additional work on traffic solutions" in Ashtead before pursuing the appeal process.

This comes following Mole Valley District Council's decision to reject Tesco's plan last month. One of the reasons cited was that the store would generate a significant increase in traffic congestion at the junction of the A24 and Woodfield Lane.

This latest twist has been celebrated by a campaign group which opposes the planned development and collected more than 6,000 signatures against the supermarket giant's plans.

Gillian Russell, spokesman for Save Ashtead's Village Environment (SAVE), said: "We are delighted to hear that Tesco is going to investigate the traffic implications of its plan.

"However, this does not surprise me at all as an excellent report by Surrey Highways makes it clear that the Tesco proposal would result in high levels of increased traffic at the already dangerous A24 and Woodfield Lane junction."

Miss Russell added: "I now urge Tesco to take advantage of this very important opportunity for them to do the right thing for Ashtead and withdraw this totally inappropriate, unwelcome and even dangerous proposal once and for all.

"This would be to their benefit as well as to the villagers of Ashtead by saving everyone who would be involved in an appeal vast amounts of money and time, and months of worry and stress."