DERELICT land owned by Tesco on the outskirts of Darlington may take time to sell, the company has warned.

The run-down former filling station at Harrowgate Hill has been subject to a series of controversial planning applications.

The supermarket giant has pledged to sell the site after three separate bids to open a new store were rejected by planners following complaints from local residents.

Last month, ward councillor Mark Burton accused the company of holding on to the land and letting it run to ruin to "punish" residents for standing against the plans.

A spokeswoman for Tesco said this week that the company intended to sell the land, but that the sale might take longer than expected owing to the effects of the credit crunch and planning restrictions on the land.

"When Tesco submits plans to develop a store, having the planning application refused by a local planning committee, while disappointing, is one of the possible risks and outcomes of the planning process," she said.

"To suggest that Tesco would take this outcome personally, and would hold it against a local community by deliberately hanging onto the land is ridiculous."

The supermarket chain applied three times for planning permission to open a Tesco Express. Darlington Borough Council planning department refused the firm's final application in December 2007.

Residents have regularly complained about the state of the site, which has been unused since Shell closed the filling station in February 2005.

The Tesco spokeswoman added: "We are constantly talking with developers and property agents about this site in North Road. However, as the land is restricted to commercial use, and planning permission for retail use is not possible, the number of possible buyers is reduced."

Harrowgate Hill ward councillor Gill Cartwright said: "Tesco are supposed to have tidied this site up, but that has not been done.

"I would urge them to try and find a buyer as soon as possible, but in the meantime they should do what they can to make the site more presentable.

"It is an eyesore for local residents, but also for tourists and business people who visit the town. The site is one of the first things people see when they come to Darlington. It doesn't create a good first impression."

Coun Burton said: "Tesco need to get things moving. Residents want to see for sale signs go up and local builders getting the opportunity to see how much the land would cost."