OVERNIGHT staff at Skipton's Tesco store are believed to be among those whose current roles are being axed by the supermarket giant.

A worker who wishes to remain unnamed has said the company's recent announcement that there are to be changes to overnight roles - understood to be stock replenishment and shelf-stacking jobs - does include the Skipton store, although this has not been confirmed officially.

On February 1 a spokesman for Tesco said: "We are today announcing changes to our overnight roles in some stores. These changes are part of our efforts to serve customers in the best way possible in a competitive market by running our business as simply and efficiently as possible, so we can re-invest in the things that add most value for customers.

"Following successful roll-outs, we have shown that by moving our overnight stock replenishment to daytime trading hours we can ensure more colleagues are available on the shop floor to help customers at peak times.

"We have, therefore, taken the decision to move our overnight stock replenishment into the daytime in 36 large stores and 49 convenience stores. In 37 stores, we will also convert our petrol stations to be pay-at-pump only during overnight hours.

"This, combined with other recent changes including the proposed closure of seven Jack’s stores, will put around 1,600 roles at risk of redundancy across our business, but we aim to offer alternative roles at Tesco for as many colleagues as we can.

"We currently have around 3,000 vacancies in our business, and we will work individually with each affected colleague to support them during this period of change and help them to find another role."

The spokesman could not confirm if Skipton was one of the stores affected and added that details of where the changes are to be made will be announced 'as soon as possible'.

Tesco UK and Republic of Ireland CEO, Jason Tarry added: “We operate in a highly competitive and fast-paced market and our customers are shopping differently, especially since the start of the pandemic.

"We are always looking at how we can run our business as simply and efficiently as possible, so that we can re-invest in the things that matter most to customers. The changes we are announcing will help us do this. Our priority now is to support our impacted colleagues through these changes and, wherever possible, find them alternative roles within our business.”