Asda chiefs could appeal against a decision by Kirklees councillors to refuse permission for a new superstore in Cleckheaton.

Spokesman Martin Cody-Owen said his firm's reaction was one of absolute surprise.

He spoke out after councillors on the Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee last week approved plans for a replacement Tesco store in the town but turned down Asda's proposals.

Asda had planned to build a 7,060sq metre food store with restaurant, fast food drive-through, car showroom and workshop and car parking in Bradford Road.

It had also proposed CCTV for the area, offered to refurbish the bus station and lay on extra buses between the store and the town centre.

Asda's senior development surveyor Andy King, who presented the application to the sub-committee called the decision very unfair.

"We still have a contract on the site and have to pursue planning permission if we want to build on that site," he said. "It seems a shame it was all turned down because we had been looking at the Bridon Wire site for a long time.

"We held back from putting the application in earlier because the workforce had not been told about their futures. In the meantime, Tesco got in there."

He said one point brought up at the planning meeting had been the fact that 48 per cent of Cleckheaton people shopped out of the town.

He said: "That's because there is already a Tesco store and nothing else. Even if Cleckheaton gets a new store, it will still be Tesco. The town needs more variety and competition."

He said once the official notice from the council detailing the exact reasons for refusal reached them they would look at all the options. Those include pulling out of the site altogether, re-submitting plans after re-examining the application, appealing, or pursuing a judicial review of the council decision.

A council spokesman refused to comment on the application until an appeal had been officially lodged, but said Asda were within their rights to appeal up to six months following the decision. It will go to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, John Prescott.

All but one councillor rejected Asda's scheme on retail, industrial and highways grounds.

Tesco's new store in St Peg Lane was approved despite objections from Spen Valley Civic Society - but it will be referred to the council's regeneration management board as it is against Unitary Development Plan policy for the site.