Power cut shuts Ellesmere Tesco

Customers were turned away from a Shropshire supermarket after a power cut forced staff to close the doors.

The Tesco store in Canal Way, Ellesmere, had to close yesterday afternoon, leaving customers having to shop elsewhere.

A Tesco spokesman said that the store had now reopened.

He apologised for any inconvenience it caused to shoppers.

Lincoln McMullan, chairman of Ellesmere Chamber of Commerce, said: "I heard all the tills went down.

"Someone told me only one till was working before noon.

"I was having my lunch at the time and lots of people went there for their lunch," he said.

"But they ended up having lunch at the pub instead because they couldn't get what they wanted from the shop.

"There were big queues at the Co-op to cope with the overspill."

Mr McMullan added: "In Ellesmere if one shop goes down then another will come to the rescue."

Another shopper said that people were being turned away from the store unless they could make cash payments.

A Tesco spokesman said: "The store was closed yesterday afternoon due to a power cut. We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused to customers."