Tesco, love it or loathe it, it's a fixture in almost every town and city these days.

Until now, Oxford appeared relatively untouched by the long arm of Tesco with just two stores - at Cowley Retail Park and in Cowley Road.

Today we report on plans for a new Express store on the site of the former Friar pub in Marston.

Inevitably, the proposals have caused concern among those living nearby and from existing shopkeepers who claim they could be put out of business.

If one brand personifies the money-orientated society in which we all live it is Tesco.

The fact that one in every eight pounds spent in British shops is spent in one of their stores proves that long gone are the days when people had the time or inclination, to pop into specialist, independent shops.

It is successful as it offers everything under one roof - from a tin of baked beans to car insurance - at better prices.

Which is why - if this application gets the go-ahead - the aisles will be bursting with eager shoppers, whatever the doubters might say.