Sainsbury’s has been thwarted in a bid to increase delivery lorries to its Pepper Hill store, which would have transformed it to a 24-hours-a-day operation.

Deliveries can be made 19 hours a day but supermarket bosses applied for an extra two lorries between 1am and 6am because of a surge in demand by online shoppers.

They warned that falling behind rivals, such as Ocado, could result in job losses while expanding the service could help double their workforce.

But Gravesham council refused the application, siding with residents who complained they are already sleep-deprived by lorries in the early hours. Members also expressed anger with supermarket managers for repeated attempts to change delivery hours despite failing with an appeal to the independent Planning Inspector.

More than 30 Sainsbury’s employees attended the planning meeting to see the proposal rejected.

The store’s online deputy manager Tara Dugan told members the growth of online shopping meant more deliveries needed to be carried out so customers could receive the freshest produce.

She explained staff were at risk of losing their jobs if they could not expand the online service, but could create more employment if it was accepted.

However, neighbours living close to the supermarket said it would be a matter of time before another application was submitted by the retail giant. Colin Mattick, of Springhead Road, said: “I have lived opposite Sainsbury’s since they opened in 1992 and they must have put in 60 applications since then. When will it end?

“I do get woken up by lorries with their engines on. I think if I went out to their homes and started banging on their doors they would call the police.

“For residents it is getting beyond a joke, we have been pushed to the limit. My view is Sainsbury’s are greedy – they want their pound of flesh and they don’t care about anything else.”

Colin Meredith, of Hall Road, added: “All us residents want is five hours of peace and quiet but we are not getting that.”

In September, in an appeal by Sainsbury’s against revised conditions, the Planning Inspector ruled 19 hours was enough time to bring in supplies.

Council leader John Burden expressed anger at the supermarket’s decision to take deliveries in the customer car park instead of the service yard, accusing managers of misleading the authority.

While grilling store manager Terry McGinty, he said: “Time and time again you have ignored agreements. If this was a smaller business and not a multi-national bully boy, we would take legal action. I wouldn’t say you and your predecessors have lied but you’ve certainly misled us. Why should we believe you?”

Mr McGinty replied the store had always been ill-equipped to operate since it first opened in 1992. He said: “When I first arrived the store was on its knees. I believe we have never discussed the needs for the Pepper Hill store. We were a laughing stock.”

All members unanimously agreed to refuse the application, with vice-chairman Peter Rayner describing the threat of job losses as a “smelly red herring”.