Ashby's Tesco supermarket says it was forced to 'pause' customers entering the shop for an hour on Sunday morning due to the sheer number of shoppers who turned up at opening time.

It insists it made the move to stop overcrowding inside the Resolution Road-based store.

Tesco would not comment directly when approached by Ashby Nub News following criticism as huge queues built up outside on Sunday - with some customers being told they could not get in immediately.

Others pointed out that there was no social distancing in evidence despite the Government's Coronavirus guidelines.

But it is understood that although the store remained open, it paused the amount of customers who were allowed in at any one time.

Tesco said this was done to manage the amount of shoppers as they were wary of letting too many people in at once.

The store added it was done for safety reasons to allow shoppers to move through the checkouts to create more space inside.

The measures were taken despite Tesco introducing new procedures last week to help cut down on panic buying amid the current crisis.

advertisement

This including limiting the amounts people could buy and closing at 10pm each night to allow for restocking.

Read what Tesco are doing HERE: Tesco Introduce New Measures