LORRIES blockaded the entrance to a supermarket depot in Nursling in protest over unpaid bills.

Drivers from Wild International haulage firm parked their heavy goods vehicles over the entrance to Tesco's depot on the Nursling industrial estate yesterday.

Company boss Richard Wild organised the protest that included two lorries and a Land Rover after he claimed the supermarket giant was withholding payment totalling £320,000 for work his company had done and in doing so had pushed it to the brink of closure.

Police were called and arrested Mr Wild for breaching the peace although he was later released without charge after agreeing to move the lorries.

Mr Wild said: "My business is under serious threat. If I don't get what is owed the business will fold and that will be with the loss of 35 jobs.

In response a Tesco spokesman said they had every intention of paying Mr Wild and blamed inaccurate invoicing on the part of Mr Wild for the delay.

A statement read: "We are disappointed with Mr Wild's actions as Tesco has made it clear that we want to pay money owed but need more accurate invoicing to process the payment."