New Malden Tesco is being forced to close early after a group of travellers moved in earlier this week.

At first, people were confused why the store in Beverley Way, which is usually open 24 hours, had shut early on back to back days.

"Two nights in a row your 24 hour New Malden store has been closed," one person wrote to Tesco on Twitter on May 15.

"No reason, just truculent staff refusing entry. What is happening?"

But a sign posted on the store window indicated there may be more the situation than initially thought.

"Due to ongoing safety concerns for customers and staff, this store will be closing between 10pm and 6am each night for the foreseeable future," the sign read.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."

Tesco since confirmed that the cause of the early closure was indeed due to a group of travellers.

"I'm ever so sorry that the store was closed," Tesco wrote on Twitter in reply to the initial query.

"I can confirm this is due to travellers camping on the premises so it's for our customer and colleague safety that this has had to happen.

"Sorry for any inconvenience."

Pictures taken last night (May 16) show a group of roughly 12 caravans in the allotment next to the Tesco carpark.

A Merton Council spokeswoman said: “As a council our priority is a clean and safe borough. We are aware that travellers have occupied land next to New Malden Tesco in Beverley Way.

"As the land is privately owned the land owner is applying for a court order to evict the travellers. 

"We are actively working with the landowner, police, and the businesses affected.”