SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has been caught out by residents who found it was breaking an agreement over lorry deliveries.

Tesco staff were caught unloading goods from HGVs into smaller “less CO2 emission” vans before delivering them to the Tesco Express store in Manningtree High Street.

The lorries were being unloaded in the back roads of two industrial estates in Station Road, Lawford, which are just half a mile away from the store.

Tesco promised to use smaller vans to transport goods, following a campaign against HGVs coming through the town, mounted in 2005.

Barry Hammick, of Constable Close, Lawford, said: “The ‘less CO2 emission’ lorries used by Tesco are, in fact, only doing the final half a mile or so of the journey to the Tesco Express.”

Mr Hammick, a member of Tesco opposition group, Stour Community First, added: “They are running an articulated lorry as well as the low emission vehicle to make deliveries, which is hardly environmentally friendly.”

Michael Coultharde-Steer, chairman of the protest group, added: “The fact these smaller lorries have ‘less CO2’ printed in large letters on the side, when they are not saving any CO2 at all, is laughable. It shows we are right not to accept what companies tell us.”

A spokesman for Tesco said: “In 2005, we made a commitment to local people we would use a smaller eight-metre lorry to deliver to our Express store in Manningtree.

“However, this lorry now has engine problems and is currently not in operation.

“As a short-term solution, goods are being transported on one of our larger vehicles, which delivers to several stores. Then a hybrid vehicle is used solely to deliver the goods to the Express store.

“It is not best practice to unload goods in an area other than a designated Tesco loading area.

“We would like to thank people for bringing this to our attention and we will now deliver to our store in High Woods, Colchester, and then to Manningtree.

“To honour our promise, all deliveries to the Manningtree Express will be in a small vehicle.”

Residents in Manningtree have been voicing concern over the use of HGV lorries since 2005, when the Express store opened.

John Caldow, of South Street, took on the supermarket chain after he got fed up with the large lorries parking outside his home to deliver goods to the new store.

Mr Caldow took a chair into the middle of the street and took out his newspaper. After three hours of traffic building up, Tesco found a suitable smaller vehicle which could negotiate the narrow road.

John Caldow, of South Street, Manningtree, said: “The large lorries were physically damaging the structure of the buildings by crashing into them and mounting the pedestrian walkways.

“They have honoured their promise to me and the town council by using the smaller vans through the town. However, I do find it farcical.”