The leader of the opposition has raised concerns over the “Tesco-isation” of Britain’s high streets.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said he was looking at changing planning law to make it more difficult for supermarkets to develop on the high street. Speaking on the BBC Politics Show, he said: “I think local people should have more of a say over what happens on their high street, and that’s one of the things that we’re looking at.

“I think it’s a problem that people think the character of their local high street is being changed and they have no power against big corporations in this country.” He said Labour would make the issue a priority in its wider policy review.”

Mr Miliband’s comments follow riots at a Tesco Express store in Stokes Croft, Bristol, which involved 160 police officers in riot gear and 300 protestors.

Claire Milne, co-ordinator of the No Tesco in Stokes Croft campaign, said that the riot was “the inevitable result of a retail behemoth setting up in an area that simply does not want it”.