The heat is being turned up on Strood's store wars as it is announced another supermarket giant is to open in the town.

Asda will take over Netto, in North Street, bringing Britain's big four grocery giants within just two miles of each other.

Morrisons built a new store in nearby Knight Road in November 2005 and is now one of the company's flagship branches.

Tesco recently announced it wants to expand its Cuxton Road store, creating 200 jobs.

And Sainsbury's also has planning permission to build a superstore on the edge of Medway City Estate, Strood.

The giant store, which could be opened within 18 months, is set to create 500 jobs.

Asda was given the go-ahead by the Office of Fair Trading this week to take over 147 Netto stores across the country.

The news comes just two years after Netto opened in Strood. The North Street store will be converted to Asda by the end of this year.

Judith McKenna, from Asda, said: "We will be able to save customers more money than ever before. We'll also create 1,500 jobs as we convert all of the Netto stores into Asda supermarkets."

A decision on the proposed expansion of Tesco is due to be made by councillors at a meeting on Wednesday, March 30.

Iceland took over the former Woolworths shop when it closed down in the High Street at the end of 2008.

There are also plans to build an Aldi store on the former site of Strood market, in Friary Place.

The budget supermarket, which won planning permission in 2006, was expected to start work in 2009.

But it has faced delays after the remains of an 11th century hospital were found on the site.