Bert Hitt and George Hayes, both 73, are angry the supermarket chain wants to build a 176-space car park for its planned new store in Recreation Way on Jubilee Fields.

The pair, both parish councillors, have applied to register the site under the Common Lands Act, which protects village greens and public open spaces, which have been used by the community for at least 20 years, from development.

Suffolk County Council, which will decide whether to grant the request, has given until the end of October for any objections against the registration to be submitted.

"If we are successful, it means the car park is a no-go on Jubilee Fields," said Mr Hitt.

"We are absolutely opposed to building on a recreation ground and the site is also a flood plain, which is quite important.

"We cannot ignore this sort of thing and we are digging our heels in and fighting it."

According to a survey carried out last year by the pair, at least 95 per cent of residents and shop workers were against a car park on Jubilee Fields, with 438 people signing a petition which was presented to Forest Heath Council's planning committee.

"We object because this is a community area and we feel it is going to become permanent," said Mr Hayes. "Once they start encroaching on that land, you do not know where it is going to end up."

Plans for a 2,071 sqm Sainsbury's store on a site off Recreation Way, currently owned by Mildenhall Social Club, were submitted earlier this year.

The supermarket chain had originally hoped to put a car park on the neighbouring football club site but no alternative site for the club has yet been found.

Mildenhall Parish Council, owner of Jubilee Fields, later agreed to allow Sainsbury's to use part of the land for a temporary car park.

A spokesman for Sainsbury's claimed the proposed car park was only temporary and it would move as soon as the football club relocated.

"We understand they have put in the registration but we believe, as the parish council believes, that their case against this application is inappropriate," he said.

On Wednesday, Forest Heath Council's planning committee deferred a decision on the plan over queries as to whether the car park on Jubilee Fields would be temporary or permanent.

A spokeswoman for the authority said the plan would go back to the committee when members received the relevant information.

Members have also asked for a traffic assessment and information about how the new store would affect shops in the town.