Hartlepool Tesco Extra store will no longer be open 24 hours a day

The move by the UK’s biggest grocery chain comes after it said in January that 76 of its stores would be hit by the move.

The town’s Tesco extra store in Belle Vue Way is among a further 20 that have been announced with reduced opening hours.

The latest change means 250 stores will remain open for 24 hours across the country.

Tesco said the rise in popularity of online shopping meant it was no longer seeing many customers in stores overnight.

The initial change relating to the first 76 stores came into force between March 14 and April 11, when opening times changed to between 6am and midnight.

Tesco has 3,500 stores across the UK employing more than 310,000 people.

Tony Hoggett, Tesco UK chief operating officer, said: “We’re making some changes to the way a small number of our stores operate to help us run them more simply and deliver the best possible service to customers.

“Where there have been changes to a colleague’s role we will work with them to ensure they are fully supported.”

Earlier this month Tesco confirmed it is to sell the Giraffe restaurant chain to Harry Ramsden owner Ranjit Boparan and also offload its Turkish operations as the supermarket continues to sell off underperforming assets.

The disposals represent a continued shift in strategy under chief executive Dave Lewis, who is attempting to turn Tesco around after years of decline under previous management.

The big four supermarkets have been locked in a price war in a bid to protect market share following the rise of German rivals Lidl and Aldi.