TESCO protesters took their message to Ilkley's most prominent landmark in a bid to get more people speaking out against the proposed new store.

More than 40 people braved the rain on Sunday to head for the Cow and Calf Rocks and unfurl a huge protest banner made from five bed sheets.

Sisters Lucinda and Antonia Warnes organised the family Picnic on the Moor to gather people against the building of a new supermarket on Railway Road, and end what they claim is apathy from other residents of the town.

They fear the proposed store on the site of engineering firm Spooner's factory will choke Ilkley streets with traffic and could put established small retailers out of business, altering the character of the town centre.

The two sisters were born and brought up in the town, formerly living on Mornington Road, one of the residential streets close to the proposed supermarket site.

"It was to hopefully raise awareness and to get people on board," said Lucinda Warnes. "I chose the Cow and Calf because it's quintessentially Ilkley and its countryside. We want to say this is our town, it's a beautiful town, keep it beautiful and not bringing in all the traffic."

The protesters were joined at the Cow and Calf Rocks by Ilkley parish and district councillor Anne Hawkesworth.

Tesco, which wants to move from its existing store on Springs Lane, has yet to submit a planning application to Bradford Council, but Miss Warnes says the protesters need a good legal mind on their side, ready to fight plans using planning law.

An online poll on the Gazette website at (www.ilkleygazette.co.uk), meanwhile, is showing strong public opposition to the Railway Road supermarket scheme - although a percentage of voters say they are in favour of the plan.

Of the 189 votes cast so far, 163 - roughly 82 per cent - were against Tesco building a new store in Ilkley. A total of 26 people, however, thought Tesco should be allowed to build the store.