58-year-old Kirkby grandmother Dot Reid was furious to discover that plans for a new Everton football stadium and associated retail complex would mean losing her home of 15 years.

She was one of the founders of St Patrick's Housing Co-operative, which now faces the compulsory purchase of their entire housing stock for subsequent demolition.

"I do not want my home knocking down for a superstore and a football stadium, but that is what will happen if the plans get passed," said Mrs Reid.

The tenacious Mrs Reid decided that the boss of Tesco, Sir Terry Leahy, deserved a taste of his own medicine.

Mrs Reid drew up plans in collaboration with architects to demolish Sir Terry's Hertfordshire mansion and replace it with a community garden.

"I thought how would Sir Terry and his family feel if their home was being threatened?" she said.

"That is why I put in an application to knock his house down."

As part of her research, Mrs Reid used Google Earth to get a satellite view of Sir Terry's mansion and the surrounding land.

“It’s massive," she said.

"You would be able to put Everton’s new stadium on his land.”

This controversy has come at a bad time for the supermarket -- profits are under pressure from the credit crunch, their plans for US expansion are believed to be failing, and they are currently suing critics in the UK and Thailand for libel.

Tesco is notorious for maintaining poor relations with the media, and their response to Mrs Reid's campaign was typically bullish.

"This is clearly a publicity stunt and has no chance of ever being implemented," said a spokesperson for the supermarket.

"The only outcome will be to waste council time, effort and taxpayers' money."

Welwyn Hatfield Council has confirmed that Mrs Reid's application will be treated like any other.

"I am appalled our homes are under threat," she said.

"It would mean the break-up of a happy community."

"I have not had any proper consultation over these plans and if I was asked, the answer would be: 'I am not moving and you are not knocking down my home.'"