Supermarket giant Tesco will be asked to explain at a public inquiry what happened to antique windows which went missing from one of its stores.

The brass frames were removed during work to convert the ground floor of the Palmeira Grande in Western Road, Hove, into a new Tesco Express.

They were replaced by modern plastic frames and the front of the Grade II listed building was altered before the store opened earlier this year.

The move provoked furious criticism from members of Brighton and Hove City Council and conservationists.

The authority issued an enforcement notice against Tesco in April requiring the company to reinstate the windows, which should have been kept as part of the planning agreement.

It was also told to return the outside of the building to its original condition or face legal action.

Tesco appealed against the enforcement notice and a public inquiry will be held at Hove town hall on February 16.

The company has never publicly explained what happened to the brass window frames which graced the former Michael Norman Antiques showroom before it was sold to developers.

They were removed by contractors during the conversion work but where they went remains a mystery.

A council spokesman said: "We are pretty certain the windows were destroyed when they were being removed from the building.

"However, working with our conservation team, we have now specified a design of window more suitable for the building which Tesco will be required to install if our enforcement action is successful.

"Tesco appealed because it believes listed building consent should have been granted for the work.

"The firm believes the action we want carried out exceeds what is necessary to alleviate the effects of the work already done on the building."

Councillor Bob Carden, chairman of the planning committee, was furious when he discovered the windows had been removed.

He said: "I still have no idea what happened to those frames.

"Of course we would like to see them put back and the frontage restored to what it used to look like. What eventually happens is a matter for the planning inspector to decide and we will now just have to wait to see what the decision is once we have given our evidence."

A Tesco spokesman said: "I cannot comment on what happened to the brass window frames.

"We are in negotiation with the council about the work that needs to be carried out to provide an agreed alternative."