Caroline Lucas has called on residents to boycott a Tesco store in a battle to save a community garden.

The Brighton Pavilion MP, Green MEP Keith Taylor, and Green Party councillors have warned the supermarket giant that a store on the site of the Lewes Road Community Garden, Brighton, will be a “failure”.

The gardeners could be evicted from the land at the corner of Lewes Road and Edinburgh Road after owners Alburn Minos Development Ltd sought a possession order.

Scores of people were expected to protest outside Brighton County Court, in William Street, at 9am today ahead of the case.

Councillor Pete West said: “Local people don’t want or need a Tesco and I am deeply opposed to plans for yet another supermarket in a road that already has a Co-op supermarket, a Sainsbury’s, a Spar and a very good Turkish mini-market.

“The last thing Lewes Road needs is another supermarket that nobody has asked for. I am asking residents to show Tesco that a new store would be a failure, by pledging to boycott it.”

Alburn has planning permission to build two retail units and seven flats on the land.

It has long been rumoured that Tesco will fill one of the units although this has not been officially confirmed by the company.

More than 4,000 people have signed petitions opposing a Tesco and supporting the garden which was set up by “guerrilla gardeners” in 2009 on the site of a former Esso petrol station.

Dr Lucas has urged Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to do all he can to stop Tesco moving in.

She wrote: “The Competition Commission concluded that the dominance of any one retailer in a local area has a negative impact on consumer choice.

“It recommended a competition test to stop supermarkets opening a new store in places where they already control the local market. I am disappointed the Government is now delaying implementation of the competition test.”

Duncan Blinkhorn, one of the garden’s founders, said: “We have had a huge amount of support from people who live in Lewes Road, and people who drive or cycle past.

“The garden means a lot to them – it is something that lifts the spirits.”

A spokesman for Tesco said: “Tesco will always engage with local communities and will seek to talk to the Green Party representatives in the near future.”

Alburn was unavailable for comment.

To sign the boyott pledge visit http://www.brightonhovegreens.org/h/n/GREEN/HOME/