SAINSBURY'S has pulled the plug on plans to open its third store in a Hampshire town.

The supermarket giant had confirmed in February that it would open a new store at a soon-to-be built mini-retail park, currently being built on the former Haydon Cars site on Salisbury Road, Andover.

The development, which includes a convenience store and two hot food takeaways, was given planning permission earlier this year.

But just a day after demolition work had begun, Sainsbury's announced that it was no longer involved with the project.

The store would have been the company's third, with Sainsbury's already operating at sites in Shepherds Spring Lane and Bridge Street.

A Sainsbury's spokesperson said: "Given the changes in the market and changes in shopping patterns (people not doing big weekly shops, more online shopping etc), the store was simply no longer viable in that location.”

The original developers of the site, Top Offer Limited, have since sold off the development to another company.

It is unclear at this time who is now leading the development, or which supermarket chain will occupy the convenience store.