AMBITIOUS plans to build a giant new retail store and petrol station beside Halton Lea have been unveiled.

Landlord Fordgate hopes to create a 13,006 sq m development - twice the size of the Asda superstore - on the opposite side of the shopping centre in East Lane.

The complex would be linked into Halton Lea.

A retailer has not yet been secured.

Sean Edgeley, North West property PR manager for Tesco, which has a store inside the centre, said his company was not interested in the new development.

He said: "We are however continuing to look for other sites in Runcorn and Widnes."