Objections to Oswestry’s proposed new supermarket came in at the rate of one a minute during a protest on Saturday, campaigners claimed today.

A coalition put together to fight the store plans said shoppers queued up to sign letters opposing the plans for a superstore in the town.

The group set up stalls in Festival Square and Bailey Head on Saturday afternoon and 325 people signed objection letters.

Coalition spokesman Mark Evans said: “Most people are convinced that another big superstore will spell the end for the town centre.

“Dozens suggested that local planners should concentrate their efforts on improving the town centre by attracting complementary new businesses.

“There is widespread support for a cinema, but many people want this to be a state-of-the-art and well-run digital cinema that isn’t subsidised by a supermarket for a limited number of years.

“Shoppers from Wrexham or Shrewsbury said that they regularly came to Oswestry because of the bustling town centre, local shops and Saturday market.

“Most voiced the opinion that both Wrexham and Shrewsbury town centres had been ruined by the arrival of superstores, and subsequent closure of independent shops.”

Councillors will meet on March 18 to decide which of the four rival supermarket bids should get the go-ahead.