SHOPPING centre bosses have unveiled a £15million expansion plan in a bid to 'fight back' against retail parks and other town centres.

Bosses at the Arndale Centre, Accrington, said the development could include a new supermarket - and that talks with Sainsbury's were already at an "encouraging stage".

Ray James, asset manager at the Arndale, said that plans, including an 80,000sq/ft shop, could be submitted to Hyndburn Council for approval within three months.

A spokesman for Sainsbury's said the company is "very interested in finding a location in the town" and is keen to begin talks with the Arndale.

The proposal could spark "supermarket wars" in Accrington because Tesco has submitted a planning application for a site on the edge of the town centre, in Eagle Street, and the town centre already has its own Asda.

Mr James said: "People are not coming to Accrington town centre to do their shopping at the moment. They go to Preston, Blackburn, or Manchester.

"If Sainsbury's came to the Arndale it would generate tremendous footfall for other shops in the town and provide a great boost. It would also attract other retailers to the area. The benefit to the local economy would be huge."

Plans for the development of an out-of-town retail park, at Whitebirk, are set to be heard at a public inquiry in April. Mr James said: "We are reacting to Whitebirk and Tesco. Both will take even more retail business out of the town. If they go ahead, Accrington will slip even further into the doldrums."

Mr James said that the expansion of the shopping centre would be from the 12-floor multi-storey car park towards the viaduct roundabout.

The Accrington town centre "masterplan", currently on display in the town, has recently been completed and recommends possible changes to the viaduct roundabout which would accommodate the expansion of the shopping centre.

There is also a planned expansion of the floor space to several shops that back on to Cobden Street, including the units occupied by Iceland and WHSmith.

Currently around 12,000 car "movements" take place at the Arndale Centre car park each week. Figures from Tesco state that they expect 30,000 cars to come in and out of their new store car park each week.

President of Hyndburn Chamber of Trade Ian Smith said that he welcomed the plans.

And Hyndburn Council leader, Coun Peter Britcliffe, said: "I am delighted that there is interest in investing in Accrington.

"I can't comment on specific planning applications, but anything that helps to develop the town centre is to be welcomed."