Budget retailer Lidl has waged war on a fellow supermarket with plans to expand one of its branches - by swallowing up a neighbouring Iceland store.
The German supermarket wants to expand its unit on Boothen Park, in Stoke, by knocking down its existing store as well as the unit next door which currently houses Iceland.
Now the plans - which would see a new, bigger unit built in place of the two existing shops - have been backed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
A planning report from Lidl said: "The two retail units are currently occupied by separate grocery retailers. The proposal is to facilitate the consolidation of the two units into one large single retail unit which Lidl would operate from.
"The proposed changes include the closing up of the existing Lidl entrance, a new aluminium shop front and main entrance to the western elevation, a new entrance canopy, and the re-arrangement of the car park."
But Iceland bosses have vowed to fight the attempts by Lidl to kick it out of the branch.
According to StokeonTrentLive , the discount retailer is now appealing against the termination of the lease at its unit - which is actually owned by Lidl.
Keith Hann, director of corporate affairs at Iceland, said: "Lidl owns the whole building in which our London Road store is located and it has obtained planning permission to extend its existing store by removing ours.
"We are contesting the termination of our lease and have no immediate plans to close our store."
