Guard dogs are patrolling the site of a giant new Tesco superstore to try to prevent it becoming a target for eco-protesters.

Work is expected to start on the store, on countryside in Durrington, Worthing, in the next few weeks.

But it is situated just a few minutes' walk from a tree camp set up more than three years ago to combat plans for a 875-home housing estate.

Security teams have been based there to prevent opponents getting onto the site and disrupting building work so that the store can be completed by the end of Spring.

A Tesco spokesman said: “We cannot stop people protesting if they wish to, we just hope any protest is reasonable and takes on board what we are doing there.

"In terms of the protesters' camp next door I think it's important to point out our plans are completely separate to the housing estate plans and there are no links between the two.

“In terms of the trees being taken down on the site there are five we are removing, four of which are already dead.

“We shall be replacing them with over 100 mature trees, each eight to ten years old, including oaks.

“We are actually putting in more trees on the site than we are taking away from it.”

The new Tesco, which will lead to the creation of 200 jobs, will be substantially larger than one already trading alongside the former farmer's field which has been levelled as builders prepare to move onto the site.

It will one day serve the proposed housing estate which is currently on hold due to the recession.

One of the protesters, a 25-year-old mother who said her name was Sarah Smith, said: “There are two battles going on at the moment - the Tesco's bit and the housing estate.

“We shall stick it out for as long as possible, even if it means we are going to be here for another four years.”

She said people living nearby were becoming increasingly sympathetic to their cause.

The protesters set up their camp, which can be seen from a public footpath, to stop hundreds of trees in ancient woodland bordering Titnore Lane being felled to make way for a new access to the proposed housing estate.

In the face of mounting opposition council planners drastically reduced the number of trees earmarked for the axe from around 275 to 75.

James Appleton, Worthing Borough Council's head of planning, regeneration and well-being, could not say when the homes might be built as it is dependent on the developers' consortium getting planning permission, plus an upturn in the property market which was just starting to show signs of revival.

Tesco have put up a sign on the perimeter fencing urging people to phone 0800 028 6428 if they have any questions about the development.

But when The Argus phoned the number call centre staff said they did not have any information about the new store.