TESCO was spotted illegally dumping piles of crates outside their shop in the high street this weekend.

Four stacks of the supermarket’s crates were seen taking up “eight to 10 parking spaces” outside its Express store in Wanstead High Street on Saturday afternoon (June 24).

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Photo: @SGFMann

Woodford Green resident Simon Mann caught Tesco in the act and claims the crates were left for over an hour in a bid to reserve the spot for one of its delivery lorries and stop other people parking there.

The 49-year-old said: “I was just doing some shopping with my son when I saw four stacks of crates taking up eight to 10 parking spaces outside Tesco.

“I got there at around 2.30pm and they were still there when we left at 3.45pm – it’s not very neighbourly behaviour.

“Before Tesco came to the high street people were really worried about what effect it might have on smaller, local businesses.

“You’d think they wouldn’t want to cause any more problems – it’s not great.”

North London-based parking expert Derek Dishman branded Tesco’s behaviour “boorish and selfish”.

He confirmed that although it is up to Redbridge Council to hand out punishments, leaving the crates on the high street for so long breaches the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2003.

He added: “Those containers are preventing other people from parking, including disabled badge holders.

“They’re also stopping other firms receiving deliveries, both of which are detrimental to high street trade, which is already declining and doesn’t need any more pressure.

“Tesco does not own the road, it is for the many, not the few.”

Redbridge Conservative Councillor Paul Canal accused Tesco of “deliberately flouting the law” and branded its behaviour “unacceptable”.

A Tesco spokesperson said: "We take our responsibilities to the local community and the safety of road users very seriously.

"We will be investigating why this happened and regret any inconvenience it caused."