TESCO is looking at the possibility of locating a new store in the centre of Canford Cliffs village, the Daily Echo understands.

Four shops, currently vacant on Haven Road, could be taken over by the supermarket giant next year, it has emerged.

John Sprackling, of the Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs & District Residents Association, said: “We have had meetings on this and we understand it will happen. The idea has a lot of support, certainly the residents association supports it.

“These four shops have been empty for years and the businesses in Canford Cliffs have been thinking of different ways to get more customers up there for a while - there have even been ideas about putting in fake shop fronts to make the area more attractive.

“If Tesco does come here it will be a good thing for many of the businesses, but, of course, not everyone would support this.”

Some traders in Canford Cliffs have been worried about declining footfall along Haven Road for some time, and a new Tesco could provide a shot-in-the-arm for the area, says Mr Sprackling.

When the Echo asked Tesco if a store was being planned at Canford Cliffs they refused to either confirm or deny the move.

However, fuelling the rumours, a Tesco spokesman did say: “We will always look at opportunities to open a new Express store in locations where we think we can provide a great service to the community.

“If we do decide to open a store we always engage the local community with our plans.”

Meanwhile, the Borough of Poole says no official planning application had been lodged by the retail giant. But a planning application may not be needed in this case if the existing properties have permission to operate as retail units.

In 2013 Tesco opened one of their Express stores at Sandbanks, Poole, despite hundreds of residents - and local business owners - signing petitions opposing the move.