A bid by Tesco to extend licensing hours in three of its shops has been criticised.

The supermarket giant submitted applications to sell alcohol between 6am and midnight every day at three of its stores in Waltham Forest.

It is currently permitted to sell alcohol between 8am and 11am, Monday to Saturday, and 10am and 10.30pm on Sundays.

These branches concerned are in Hoe Street, Lea Bridge Road and St James’s Street,

The move has brought criticism from councillors in the area.

A joint letter from councillors Mark Rusling, Saima Mahmud, Ahsan Khan, Johar Khan, Sharon Waldron and Asim Mahmood said the hours are unnecessary.

“We do not believe that these extended hours would be conducive to a number of aspects of the Waltham Forest Statement of Licensing Policy,” it states.

“We would like to particularly object to the sale of alcohol at 6am – a time that is entirely unwarranted in a residential area.”

The applications will be considered at a meeting of the council's licensing committee next Friday (June 12).