Racehorse owner and farmer William Kelly has raised the stakes in plans to build an out-of-town superstore, by offering his land as a site, writes Peter Barrington.

A developer has already submitted plans for a store to the north of Bicester.

But Mr Kelly, pictured above, believes an 11-acre field between the town and Caversfield could be a viable location if councillors reject these plans next month.

Mr Kelly, 86, of The Retrievers, Caversfield, has submitted an outline planning application to Cherwell District Council for a foodstore plus a petrol filling station and parking for 460 cars on a field north of Southwold Lane. Plans by Kimberley Developments are for a foodstore and other retail outlets on a nearby site, on the corner of Buckingham Road and Skimmingdish Lane. But Mr Kelly, whose horses include Madam Alison, which has won four Flat races, said: "There is some doubt about the Kimberley plan. My site is an alternative because it is about 200 yards away."

David Anderson, a director of Kimberley, said: "I think he will face more planning difficulties than we shall with our site. Ours is within what is, in effect, the Bicester ring road and his is outside it. Mr Kelly's site is greenfield farmland, whereas ours is brown-field."

Caversfield Parish Council chairman Odette Phipps said: I do not think anything should be built on either site until Skimmingdish Lane has been improved and the heavy traffic in the area sorted out."