ASDA chiefs remain determined to open a new supermarket in Cinderford, despite losing out to the Co-op in the High Court.

The district council originally gave Asda permission to build a new store, but the Co-op applied for a judicial review - successfully arguing that allowing an Asda store in Steam Mills did not comply with the council's own policy that a new store should be located within the town centre.

This week, the judge found in favour of the Co-op on five counts out of six, leaving planning officials red faced.

Patrick Stones, the managing director of Trilogy, the agency working to bring Asda to cinderford, admitted the latest ruling was a setback.

However he insists it is a 'delay' rather than the end of the line for the supermarket giant.

He said: "It is obviously disappointing that the judge has reached this conclusion on the council's initial decision, particularly since it will further delay our development.

"However, less than a month ago, the entire forest of Dean planning committee and over 1,000 local residents made it clear that they continue to support our plans to redevelop this derelict site on Steam Mills Road for a new food store.

"We hope that they will now revisit their decision at the earliest opportunity, in light of this judgement."

A spokesman for The Co-operative said: "We are pleased with the outcome of the judicial review as were always of the opinion the correct planning procedure had not been followed, which is why we made the legal challenge."

For more on this story, read this week's edition of The Forester.