A CUSTOMER says that Tesco has not scored any points with her and has chopped up her clubcard in protest at their 24-hour opening hours.

Jo Thornley, of Kings Road, (right) is taking her custom elsewhere and is hoping that other townsfolk will follow suit as a mark of protest against the store's 'open all hours' policy.

She said: "I am hoping that people will boycott Tesco until they give up this 24-hour thing. We should show that popular demand is that we do not want it to open at night."

Mrs Thornley, 52, enclosed her chopped up card in a letter to the night manager voicing her concerns about their late-night opening hours.

She said: "I just chopped up my card and sent it back in protest. I just feel that Ilkley is not the place for 24-hour shopping. It is a quiet town and we do not want movement at night."

Mrs Thornley, who has two grown up children, said she is opposed to the nocturnal shopping as it could encourage crime and youngsters

hanging about.

She said: "It is really not necessary for people to shop at night. It is encouraging bad behaviour in people.

"It is also a sloppy way of living. What is wrong with making do with what you have at home, or sorting out your shopping needs through the day?"

Mrs Thornley, a plumbing and central heating engineer, believes that the long shopping hours also contribute to the decline of traditional family life.

She said: "I believe 24-hour shopping impoverishes the world rather than enriching it. I have been to America so I have seen the 24-hour mentality at work. There are no recognised times for rest and relaxation.

"Tesco are trying to take over and be the only shopping retail outlet."

A spokeswoman for Tesco said: "We are aware of concerns expressed by local residents. We are doing everything we possibly can to ensure that residents are not disturbed."

She added that several measures had been taken to reduce noise during late night hours, including asking a security van to use a different entrance, carrying out shopping to customers cars, keeping trolleys inside and printing notices asking for people to be quiet. Lights had also been redirected downwards into the car park so they did not affect residents. (33-007-AH)