The future of the derelict St Mary's Hospital site will be decided as quickly as possible, site owners assured residents.

In the wake of last month's devastating fire, concerned members of St Mary's Residents Association had a chance to voice their fears Tuesday evening .

Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust chief executive Mike Pollard assured the 50 residents the Trust was keen to square its agenda with their wishes.

Permission has been given for a small supermarket, houses, and smaller retail units on the Colchester site.

Since the last patient left in 1993, the Trust has sought a solution which meets requirements as well as providing the best value to the public purse.

Director of finances David Herd confirmed the main bid so far had come from supermarket chain Morrisons, which wants to build a 80,000 sq ft store.

But the planning application got nowhere and a new one will have to be submitted to overcome a series of obstacles.

Colchester Council's chief planning officer Ian Vipond said it was unlikely a large supermarket would be allowed.

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