The twilight Zone

Youths force Tesco night closure

Rowdy teenagers have forced a 24-hour supermarket to close on Friday nights several times over the past few months.

Staff at Tesco Extra in Leyland, Lancashire, said the store has had to shut from midnight until 0300 BST on a number of occasions.

They said teenagers were throwing fireworks and congregating on the car park, despite it being very close to the local police station.

Lancashire police said it was working with Tesco to resolve the problem.

A spokesman for Tesco said that it was "a shame we have to resort to it".

Fireworks and alcohol

One store worker said that last Friday night was "like Beirut".

"We have had all sorts: kids throwing fireworks at staff and hurling fireworks at the trolley bays and people drinking outside. It is terrible," the staff member said.

Lancashire police said it had had a "small" number of complaints and was working with the store.

Chief Insp Debbie Howard said: "The decision to close the store early is based on police advice but this decision is at the manager's discretion.

"Tesco have been closing for a couple of hours from midnight on Friday nights, however, the main reason for this is due to adults visiting the store who are drunk who have been out drinking in the local pubs in the area.

"These people were then visiting the store and some were being abusive to Tesco staff and customers. Since this measure was introduced, incidents of this nature have reduced."