Dobbies says West Coast seeks to block open offer

LONDON, May 9 (Reuters) - Tesco-controlled Dobbies Garden Centres DGC.L said on Friday it is being sued by West Coast Capital (Lios) Ltd, which is seeking to block a planned open offer to shareholders.

Tesco (TSCO.L: Quote, Profile, Research), Britain's biggest retailer, is keen to strengthen its grip on Dobbies, Britain's third-largest garden centre operator, in the face of rival interest from fellow garden centre operator Tom Hunter, who owns just over 29 percent of Dobbies and resisted Tesco's takeover offer last year.

Hunter, Dobbies' second-largest shareholder with a nearly 30 percent stake, is also owner of Dobbies' largest rivals, such as Britain's biggest garden chain, Wyevale.

Hunter's West Coast Capital controls around 110 garden centres in Britain with Wyevale and the Blooms of Bressingham chain. (Reporting by Hsu Chuang Khoo; Editing by David Holmes)