A DATE has been set for the David versus Goliath battle that sees an environmental campaigner take on the might of Tescos supermarket.

Ashley Gunstock, of Cranbourne Avenue, Wanstead is taking Redbridge Council and the retail giant to court over the local authority's decision to grant Tesco's new Wanstead High Street store an alcohol licence.

Mr Gunstock, an actor and teacher, feels aggrieved that the council's licensing committee refused to accept a petition of 1,440 signatures against the move.

He told the Guardian:“I feel that we were properly considered and that the people of Wanstead made their feeling very clear that they did not want Tescos to have an alcohol licence.

“Residents believe it will have a detrimental effect on the area and in outlying areas such as Reading, Crawley and Bexley the police have actually asked for Tesco licences to be removed.

“In terms of anti-social behaviour and related problems there is no need for another shop to be selling alcohol on the high street.”

A case management hearing at Redbridge Magistrate's court on Friday heard that Tesco's would seek to recover their legal costs from any future case.

Presiding magistrate John Hartshorn said: “[Mr Gunstock] must understand the consequences should his appeal be unsuccessful.”

But Mr Gunstock said he had no fear at single-handedly taking on Britain's biggest employer who accounts for one in every seven pounds spent on the nation's high streets.

He added: “I think I'm going to need a big stone if I'm going to knock out that Goliath. I'll speak to the other residents and let them know where we stand.

“At the moment we know that Tesco would pursue the costs of an appeal and so we need to decide if we can cope with that.”

The appeal will be heard at Redbridge Magistrate's court on November 19.