FURIOUS Tesco home shoppers were faced with finding alternative suppliers after the major retailer stopped deliveries during the closure of the A382.

During the six week closure of the main road between Moretonhampstead and Bovey Tracey, Tesco was refusing supermarket deliveries to some TQ13 postcode addresses.

Shoppers had been angry that the company failed to let them know and they only discovered when they tried to book delivery slots.

One customer, who is housebound, relies entirely on the delivery service and was left high and dry and looking for another supermarket to deliver her groceries.

However, since being contacted by the Mid Devon Advertiser, Tesco has done a U-turn and says it had ‘temporarily paused’ deliveries to the area while it assessed the alternative route.

The company says it is sorry for the inconvenience caused and home delivery slots for the area are now available.

Motorists are facing diversions until August 28 while the essential highway improvements on the road are carried out.

But Tesco customers were unhappy that while they have to deal with the road closure, it was made worse that home deliveries were stopped.

One said: ‘To stop delivery to all of TQ13 is ridiculous and having spoken to Tesco, they don't seem that they want to listen.’

Others have rung the company to complain and that delivery saver payments, which are a monthly fee to cover all deliveries, were still being taken yet the service was unavailable.

Shoppers described it as a ‘terrible’ way to treat customers, particularly without warning that the service was being removed for six weeks.

One was given a £15 voucher when they complained but now insist they will be ordering from another large supermarket in future.

She said: ‘I’m sure I won’t be the only one shopping elsewhere so quite a lot of lost business for them.’