Isles of Scilly residents protest against Tesco opening on Sundays

Angry residents have launched a petition against opening a Tesco store on the Isles of Scilly on Sundays.

The supermarket giant wants to extend the opening hours of its store in Hugh Town, St Mary’s, from six days a week to seven.

But locals say the move would “destroy the peace and tranquility” of the islands and lead to increased traffic and noise.

A petition against the plans has been launched and has already received more than 500 signatures.

Islander John Martin said: “Tesco’s plans would ruin the character of the islands.

"We come here to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and having a supermarket open on Sundays would destroy that.”

Another resident, Mary Smith, said: “This is a small community and we don’t need a 24-hour Tesco.

"It would just lead to more traffic and noise, and it would be a nightmare for the people who live nearby.”

Tesco said it was “aware of the concerns” raised by residents and would be “taking them into account” when making a decision on whether to open the store on Sundays.

A spokesman said: “We are committed to being a good neighbor and we will work with the community to find a solution that meets everyone’s needs.”

The Isles of Scilly are a group of islands located off the south-west coast of England.

The islands have a population of around 2,200 people and are a popular tourist destination.

Tesco is the only supermarket on the islands and is currently open from Monday to Saturday.