THOUSANDS of Whiteley residents who faced six months without a convenience store, chemist and post office have won a reprieve.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Tesco announced it was to pull out of running the One Stop shop at its temporary branch in Yew Tree Drive after a permanent contract was awarded to Spar.

Tesco said it was not prepared to continue operating the branch while work was under way to create a permanent row of shops that would be used by a rival grocery store.

But after the plight of residents was highlighted, civic chiefs agreed a deal with the two chains to bridge the gap.

Fareham's council leader Sean Woodward, a Whiteley resident, said: "Residents should now have unbroken service until the new shops open in September. I'm delighted. It's a real shift in attitude from Tesco and I'm sure they were spurred into action by the Echo article.

"They were facilities we didn't want to lose as they serve 10,000 people in Whiteley.

"I hope Spar will go in there early and build up their customer base."

Tesco has agreed to leave the portable cabin and all its fixtures and fittings and allow Spar to take over the lease.

Spar have confirmed they are in talks with civic chiefs to put their name above the door.

The talks should mean the chemist and Post Office remain - saving residents from having to travel to Park Gate.

Spar spokesman John Wood said: "We will be conducting a thorough survey of the people of Whiteley to find out what they need."