This is the only Tesco with one golden rule — but shoppers are furious its changing

Tesco is the largest supermarket successful the UK, with astir 2,000 stores crossed the country.

With immoderate locations operating 24/7, nary substance the clip oregon day, you’re apt to find a Tesco unfastened – but, there’s 1 wide exception.

Head northbound (and we mean way north) to the Outer Hebrides, a clump of islands successful the Atlantic Ocean, astir 40 miles from mainland Scotland.

It’s present you’ll find Stornoway, connected the Isle of Lewis, location to the lone Tesco successful their immense retail empire that doesn’t unfastened connected a Sunday.

The town, which has a colonisation of astir 7,000, has a agelong contented of observing the Sabbath day.

The assemblage has beardown spiritual affiliations, with galore of the Presbyterian islanders present believing that Sunday should beryllium a time of remainder – arsenic is stated successful 1 of the 10 commandments.

The lone different supermarket successful the town, a Coop, is besides closed connected Sunday, arsenic are council-run facilities specified arsenic swimming pools and soft-play areas. Although arsenic rules person relaxed, restaurants and pubs, arsenic good arsenic petrol stations, are present unfastened too.

It was lone arsenic precocious arsenic 2002 that a commercialized formation was capable to onshore astatine Stornoway airdrome connected a Sunday and successful 2009, erstwhile the archetypal ferry near the land for the mainland connected a Sunday, a tiny protestation radical gathered, singing hymns and speechmaking psalms.

But contempt objection, Tesco is moving up with their plans. The section assembly has ruled successful favour of the caller opening hours, and Tesco volition unfastened their store for the archetypal clip successful Stornoway this Sunday November 17, from 12pm to 8pm.

Still, immoderate residents aren’t backing down.

An online petition against the determination has gained 2,039 signatures, and you’ll spot ‘Keep Sunday Special’ banners hung astir the town.

A protestation gathering was held with 200 radical successful attendance – though a typical from Tesco was not 1 of them – and spiritual islands are boycotting the store altogether, successful favour of Coop.

Christian Davies, Tesco store manager successful the Highlands and Islands, has antecedently said: ‘We are assured that the determination to unfastened our Stornoway superstore connected Sundays volition let america to equilibrium the request for seven-day opening portion remaining respectful to section traditions and culture.’

A connection from Tesco besides said: ‘Since opening successful 2008, the Stornoway Superstore has been closed betwixt 10pm connected Saturday evenings until 6am the pursuing Monday.

‘It is hoped that opening connected a Sunday volition let customers much flexibility to entree caller nutrient and groceries and alleviate unit connected what person traditionally been busier buying days owed to the existent six-day operation.’

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