Tesco store ends 24-hour opening

Police said they would speak to Tesco to try and solve the problem

Drunken and intimidating behaviour by youths in an Aberdeenshire town has forced Tesco to abandon 24-hour opening, BBC Scotland can reveal.

The supermarket has taken the decision in Inverurie to protect its staff from incidents like in-store trolley races.

It is now being shut between midnight and 0400 BST at weekends.

A Grampian Police spokesperson said the force was doing what it could to try and deal with any trouble at the Inverurie store.

'Aisle races'

Insp Dave Allan told BBC Scotland: "I have heard stories of trolley races down the aisles at 3am in the morning.

"The limited number of staff at that time should not have to put up with that type of behaviour.

"In a perfect world I would be more than delighted to place an officer in Tesco at that time."

However, Insp Allan said resources were needed to deal with policing elsewhere in the area.

He added: "We need to speak to Tesco and see what we can do to make this improve."