BOSSES at The Range are hoping to overturn a restriction in its contract to be able to sell food an drink from its Taunton store.

If it manages to change an agreement limiting it to selling household, DIY and garden centre products, customers would be able to buy meat and dairy products, non-perishable food and soft and alcoholic drinks.

The company is asking Somerset West and Taunton Council to remove the current constraints, which bar The Range from selling food and drink from its store in Hankridge Way, on Taunton Retail Park.

The limitations on what it can stock at the store, which opened in July 2015 in the former Homebase premises, were imposed "to protect the vitality and viability of existing centres", which include Sainsbury's.

The Range wants to install freezer cabinets in the store to display a range of perishable goods such as cheese, meat and dairy products.

It would also offer customers perishable tinned and packet items, as well as alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks.

All the items would be for consumption off the premises.

There would also be two chiller/cold stores in the existing warehouse yard.

The Range, which has a contract to supply goods supplied by the Iceland firm, would also stock household items such as soap, loo rolls and toothpaste.

If the council gives the go-ahead, the store would not be increased in size.

A spokesperson for The Range said: "The additional goods would 'displace' the equivalent proportion of non food comparison retail space."

They added: "(The alterations are to) meet customer expectations and to increase choice in a viable and sustainable manner."