Battle-lines are being drawn in a new stand-off between residents and Tesco.

Guerrilla gardeners who set up a mini-park on a derelict petrol station in Lewes Road, Brighton, have refused to move out to make way for a new Tesco convenience store.

They have announced plans to keep open the Lewes Road Community Garden they founded last May and which has since been used by hundreds of residents.

Regular gardening days and events will continue.

Cathy Marchand, from the Lewes Road Community Garden Alliance (LRCGA), said: “The time is right to act to protect Brighton as a very special city.

"Our community garden has become a symbol of ‘people power’. I think, at this time, it is possible to make a difference and place the needs of our community before those of corporations and property developers."

The stand-off follows a series of attempts by Sussex residents to block the opening of Tesco stores.

A treetop camp has been in place in Titnore Woods in Worthing since 2006 trying to block a new supermarket and housing there, while in Brighton people-power was last year credited for Tesco's decision to abandon plans for a mega-store in London Road.

Members of the LRCGA yesterday said they were undecided about how far they were willing to go to stop the development, which also includes flats and a betting shop. They have not ruled out "occupying" the site.

Construction was expected to begin early this year and the gardeners originally agreed to move out before Christmas, even holding a leaving party, before changing their minds.

The site's owners' Alburn Minos Developments said they were disappointed by the announcement. Nigel Kinnaird, from the firm, said they had shown goodwill to allow the garden to continue until now and were unhappy it was not now being returned.

He said the company planned to start work on site within months and hoped to resolve the situation amicably. He added they would reluctantly take legal action if necessary.