Redgrave stops hometown development

British actress Vanessa Redgrave is battling supermarket giant Tesco in a bid to stop them redeveloping part of her native London borough.

The store chain had been in discussion with property developers St James’s Investments Ltd about demolishing a local cinema, homes, tower blocks and offices near Hammersmith Town Hall to make way for a giant supermarket, new shops, council offices and homes.

But the Howard’s End star, 63, held an angry meeting at the town hall and told 250 people: "We'll mount a boycott of Tesco and organise a rota of pickets giving out leaflets saying how you buy better food elsewhere."

Council leader Andrew Slaughter says: "We are minded to refuse the proposal from St James's Investments Ltd for a new supermarket and offices next to Hammersmith Town Hall."