Fights break out in Tesco over 'reduced to clear' section as security increased amid cost of living crisis

21 March 2024, 15:40 | Updated: 21 March 2024, 15:53

Fights break out in Preston Tesco over 'reduced to clear' section amid cost of living crisis
Fights break out in Preston Tesco over 'reduced to clear' section amid cost of living crisis. Picture: Alamy / X Dan Alsop / Hannah Shorrock

By Danielle de Wolfe

A Tesco store in Preston has been forced to implement additional security measures after a series of fights broke out near the 'reduced to clear' section amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Shoppers took to social media to post images of the "crazy" scene, with barriers placed around a section of fridges containing reduced food items.

Members of security can be seen guarding the chillers, with two separate pictures uploaded to social media, shared 10 days apart, showing cordons in place as hopeful shoppers looking on.

It comes amid reports the cut-price, yellow stickered food has caused regular scuffles in the supermarket.

The Tesco store, located in Deepdale Retail Park on Liverpool Road, was previously a Morrisons until it changed hands last year.

It comes as the the Bank of England today held interest rates at 5.25%, a 16-year-high which has seen many household budgets stretched to breaking point.

It comes amid reports the cut-price, yellow stickered food has caused regular scuffles in the Tesco supermarket.
It comes amid reports the cut-price, yellow stickered food has caused regular scuffles in the Tesco supermarket. Picture: Twitter / Dan10k

Taking to Twitter, local shopper Dan Alsop posted an image of the safety measures, commenting: "Actual barriers up in @Tesco Preston around the “Reduced to Clear” section as apparently there’s been scraps recently.

He added: "Crazy world we live in. #CostOfLivingCrisis"

It comes as new official figures suggest the UK’s poorest families are being hit hardest by the cost of living crisis.

The figures show 300,000 more children have been plunged into poverty amid falling incomes and soaring levels of hunger and food bank use.

Read more: Bank of England holds interest rate at 16-year high of 5.25%, despite drop in inflation rate

Read more: ‘Dramatic’ decline in birth rates mean world’s population could fall for the first time since the Black Death

Another local shopper, Hannah Shorrock, from Preston, documented the crowd gathering around the reduced aisle, labelling the scene "crazy".

It comes amid claims shop management have now had to implement a cap of just two reduced items per customer in a bid to stop shoppers hoarding reduced items following increased demand.

Taking to Facebook, Ms Shorrock wrote: "Only in Preston Tesco. Security had fencing around the reduced items with a security guard making people que up and enter the area one by one.

"To top it off I heard him say that people are only allowed 2 items each! It's ridiculous."

Only in Preston Tesco. Security had fencing around the reduced items with a security guard making people que up and...

Posted by Hannah Shorrock on Saturday, March 9, 2024

The shopper added that "it didn't even look like there was much there", adding that the Preston superstore even placed "security tags on pens" to ward of shoplifters.

It comes as new poverty figures from the Department for Work and Pensions suggest that 4.3 million children in the UK are living in relative poverty - a record figure.

Thursday's announcement by the Bank of England marks the fifth time in a row that the Bank has held its interest rate at the same level.

Last time, two members of the Bank's monetary policy committee voted for another rate hike to 5.5%. This time, eight voted to hold and one to cut the rate.

High interest rates are intended to slow down spending, which is a measure for controlling inflation.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Pope Francis

Pope Francis to be admitted to hospital for bronchitis treatment

One Briton has died in a car crash in New Zealand

One Brit dead and three fighting for lives after car crashes into tourists’ hired bikes in New Zealand

The woman won an immigration appeal after her marriage was ruled to have lasted long enough for her to be allowed to stay

Ghanaian tourist allowed to live in Britain under Brexit marriage rules even though she did not attend her wedding

Exclusive
Britain is planning to give away the Chagos Islands

Chagossians beg to return to their homeland, as LBC visits their lunch club in Crawley

A drone hit the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine

Russian 'high explosive' drone hits Chernobyl causing 'significant damage' to shelter protecting world from radiation

JD Vance has warned the US could take military action against Russia.

US threatens Russia with military action if Ukraine peace talks fail as Putin hits Chernobyl with 'high-explosive warhead'

Ilian Velazquez travelled to the UK to live with her dead partner.

Cuban woman given UK visa to visit boyfriend who had already died

Exclusive
File photo of the signs on the Jobcentre Plus office in Lisson Grove, north west London.

Jobcentre staff 'bitten and attacked with screwdrivers', as 90% of security guards face 'dangerous incidents' at work

Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire after complaining about her "psychotic and possessive" boss.

Soldier, 19, found dead in room begged ‘infatuated’ boss ‘I want to live my life’

The gas would have to be extracted via fracking

Giant gas field discovered under UK that 'could fuel the country for a decade'

Donald Trump has been accused of 'appeasement'

Ukraine’s future at stake as world leaders gather in Munich - with Trump accused of ‘appeasing’ Putin

Una Crown

Bloody fingernails of murdered widow, 86, help convict killer 12 years after she was stabbed and set on fire at home

President Donald Trump

Donald Trump says he trusts Putin and that Russia should return to G7 - labelling Moscow's expulsion 'a mistake'

Kanye West, left, and Bianca Censori arrive at the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Kanye West and Bianca Censori 'split' days after Grammys scandal - as rapper releases bizarre message

Near-Earth asteroid, artwork

NASA scientist reveals list of countries that face being hit by huge 'city killer' asteroid the size of Big Ben

'Uncle Sam isn't Uncle Sucker,' US tells Nato - as Ukraine admits it 'won't accept' US-Russia deal without seat at table

'Uncle Sam isn't Uncle Sucker,' US tells Nato - as Zelenskyy says Trump-Putin deal to end war 'must involve Ukraine'