SHOPPERS in Hereford have given the thumbs down to the idea of another city Tesco store.

Campaigners collected dozens of signatures against plans the supermarket giant has to turn the Gamecock pub on Holme Lacy Road into a Tesco Express.

“We managed to fill several pages of the petition,” said Councillor Chris Chappell who led the protest outside the city’s Bewell Street Tesco on Saturday.

“People just wanted to say no to another Tesco in Hereford, and certainly not one on Holme Lacy Road.”

Coun Chappell said he hopes Hereford MP Jesse Norman can take the petition to the House of Commons once complete.

Tesco spokesperson Sophie Akokhia said: “We are interested in taking a lease on the Gamecock pub to create a Tesco Express store for the surrounding community.

“We believe the convenience store will reduce car journeys since the vast majority of our customers are likely to come from within a one-kilometre radius, as well as use more sustainable modes of transport.”