RUNCORN FC could know by the end of the month whether their plan to leave Canal Street to shoppers is to fall at the first hurdle.

Developers Morbaine have asked Halton Council for permission to build a supermarket with parking at the club's current home, leaving Runcorn to find a new ground.

The bid, which the club hope will be the springboard to a new stadium, should come before councillors in a fortnight.

A Halton Borough Council spokesperson appeared to pour cold water on Runcorn and Morbaine's shopping centre plans.

Confirming that an outline plan for the development had been received, a council spokesperson said: "The application is contrary to 'Halton's Local Plan and thev current policy is that shopping developments of this kind will not normally be encouraged outside defined town centres."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.