Supermarket chains Tesco and Sainsbury’s have been accused of fighting a turf war for Brighton and Hove's customers.

The two corporations have been criticised after revelations in the past fortnight showed the number of new stores the pair had opened or planned for the city in the past year had reached three each.

It takes the total number of the two chains' shops in Brighton and Hove to 18 and has led to fears that the march of supermarkets across the county is unstoppable.

Ian Davey, a member of Brighton and Hove City Council, accused the supermarkets of targetting the city at a time when independent traders were struggling with the recession.

Councillor Davey, the Green Party deputy convenor, said: "There is a turf war going on on our streets between Sainsbury’s and Tesco and it seems to be accelerating.

"Anytime an empty premises becomes available at this time in the recession it seems they are seizing on them, and they are getting them because they are the only ones with the finances to do so at the moment."

He spoke days after Sainsbury's confirmed rumours it would be opening a Local convenience store at the former Caffyn's car showroom in Preston Road, Brighton, and as the creators of a "guerilla garden" at a derelict petrol station in Lewes Road, Brighton, prepared to make way for a new Tesco Express to be built there.

Mr Davey's words follow less than a month after the council's leader Mary Mears voiced her opposition to more chain supermarkets moving into the city but conceded she and her cabinet had no powers to stop them.

She spoke of her frustration when Sainsbury's announced it would open an Extra in part of the Reflections bathroom shop in Portland Road, Hove.

The latest proposals follow the opening of new Tesco Express shops in Queen's Road and St James's Street, Brighton, this year, and Sainsbury's expansion of its Local in Western Road, Brighton, into the former JJB Sports next door.

The supermarkets have been expanding across Sussex as well as in Brighton and Hove.

Plans for new or expanded Tesco stores in Worthing, Uckfield, Hailsham, Eastbourne and Crowborough have all met opposition, as has a scheme for a new Sainsbury's in Bognor.

Asda also plans a new supermarket in Newhaven, while Waitrose has been linked with new branches in Storrington and on Hove's Sackville Trading Estate.

National reports over the weekend suggested Tesco were planning a major expansion and had approximately 76 outstanding planning applications in the UK, while Asda and J Sainsbury had submitted about 45 between them.

A Tesco spokesman yesterday said: "There is no turf war going on. We just look to open stores to serve customers where they are needed."

A Sainsbury's spokewoman said the chains actions were nothing to do with what Tesco did.

She said: "We are actively looking for more opportunities to open Sainsbury's Locals across the country. There are no confirmed plans for additional stores in Sussex at present.

"We are pleased to have announced plans for two new stores in Brighton and Hove in recent weeks. Our aim is simply to provide Sainsbury's customers with easy access to popular products in an easily accessible location."

TESCO Queens Road, Brighton (Express – opened summer 2009) Western Road, Brighton (Express) Jubilee Street, Brighton (Express) Dyke Road, Hove (Express) St James's Street, Brighton (Express – opened summer 2009) Denmark Villas, Hove (Express) Droveway, Hove (Express) Church Road, Hove (Superstore) Station Road, Portslade (Metro) Warren Road, Woodingdean (Express) West Street, Rottingdean (Express) Lewes Road, Brighton (Express – expected late 2010/early 2011) SAINSBURY'S Western Road, Brighton (Local – size doubled 2009) New England Street, Brighton (Superstore) Lewes Road, Brighton (Superstore) Old Shoreham Road, Hove (Superstore) Portland Road, Hove (Local – expected early 2010) Preston Road, Brighton (Local – expected mid-2010)