New store hit by till problems

Staff at Shrewsbury's £15 million new Tesco Extra Store were left red-faced after its self-service tills refused to take new £20 notes.As hundreds of shoppers admired the Harlescott store at its launch yesterday, others were left standing by a machine spitting out their crisp new notes - which have been in circulation since March 13.

The new banknote features Adam Smith, one of the fathers of modern economics, and although it is the same size and colour as the old one, it has enhanced security features.

The manager of the new store, Chris Oldfield, put it down to teething problems and said the problem was due to be solved by this morning.

He said: "We have had some difficulties with the machine but it's temporary.

"They are applying a software patch to download into the system, which runs the self-service tills, which will mean the problem will be resolved quickly.

"It has not been recognising the new £20 notes but it's not been causing major problems.

"I have spoken to the guys who are operating the tills and the customers have been really understanding.

"It's just a few teething problems and you are bound to get a few with a store of this size. But everything has gone really well."

The new store is the first supermarket in England and Wales to have been built of timber instead of steel.

The store also boats Tesco's first electric delivery van.

At yesterday's launch people queued to get in and were welcomed by staff and a St George's Day celebration - including St George himself on stilts at the front doors.