Tesco has started a six-month trial to extend opening hours at seven Tesco Extra stores' pharmacies in Greater London.

The seven affected stores confirmed by Tesco are Wembley Extra, Watford Extra, New Malden Extra, Borehamwood Extra, Purley Extra, Surrey Quays Extra and Colney Hatch Extra.

The pharmacies are located at stores with extended opening hours and the pilot will see dispensaries open later into the evening, closing at either 10.30pm or 11pm.

The move was in response to customer demand, according to a spokesperson.

But one pharmacy manager at an affected store told C+D they did not believe there was any call for an extension of opening hours.

"We don't think there is a demand for people to work longer hours," they said.

An overtime budget would be given to Tesco stores where necessary, a spokesperson confirmed. And staff had been consulted on the changes and could feed into the trial, they added.

Tesco was unable to comment on the "the finer points" of payments being received by pharmacists involved in the changes.