A SUPERMARKET in Padiham has became one of the the latest victims of the chain’s cuts to 24-hour opening times.

Tesco is making the change in 20 more stores after it announced 76 premises, including the Clitheroe superstore, would no longer be open in the small hours in January.

The latest changes to the stores are set to be implemented from August and will mean it will close its doors to customers between midnight and 6am.

Cllr Andrew Tatchell, who represents the Gawthorpe ward on Burnley Council, believes that Tesco would have considered what was necessary before making the decision and isn’t ‘too concerned’ by the plans.

He said: “They will know the foot flow behind the finances and the commercial side of the decision.

“They are cutting the least used hours, I can’t think many people do much shopping at that time.

“If it was bigger reductions and the hours were fewer it could be more damaging and I would be more concerned.”

Tesco has said that the reduced hours will improve the shopping experience for customers because the move means more staff time will be freed up to replenish products on the shelves overnight.

This will mean better availability of products and better looking stores, the company said, when shops open their doors to customers each morning.

Since the Clitheroe superstore reduced its opening hours, Ribble Valley Cllr Ian Brown doesn’t believe any effects have been felt.

He said: “I honestly don’t think there has been much difference. Not one person has spoken to me about it.

“They obviously felt there wasn’t enough business from it.”

Tesco hopes the changes will enable stores to be more responsive to the way customers want to shop and enable a more efficient use of time and resources, making savings which can be passed on to customers.

Tony Hoggett, retail director for Tesco, believes its plans to reduce opening hours will ultimately make the store better for customers at the most used times.

He said: “We’re always thinking about how to serve our customers better in each of our stores and with the growth of online grocery shopping, these stores saw very few customers during the night.

“It makes more sense for colleagues to focus on replenishing the shelves instead and making sure they’re fully stocked when they open their doors at 6am.”