SCORES of Hampshire Tesco workers have doubled their money thanks to the unstoppable march of the supermarket giant.

Staff of the country's biggest supermarket, which accounts for one in every £8 spent in British shops, are to get a slice of £106m in payouts from a share scheme, it has been revealed.

Delivery drivers, stock controllers, general assistants and managers at the firm, which has stores across Hampshire, will receive up to £7,000 each.

Customer service desk assistant at the Winchester store Maureen Wilson, 47, wouldn't reveal how much she had pocketed but said: "I did very well and I was very happy. People here were very pleased. I have still not decided what I am going to do with it."

The mum of two from Colden Common praised Tesco for running the scheme.

"It is a brilliant thing that they do. It is an excellent scheme. They are a good employer."

Save As You Earn schemes allow staff to set aside a set sum from their salary each month for a three or five year period.

When the schemes mature they have the option to buy shares at the price set when they joined the plan.

Tesco said staff who invested in the five-year scheme had doubled their money because of the growth in the firm's share price.

Yesterday the Tesco share price stood at more than £3 - in 1999, it was £1.51.

Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy said: "Being a shareholder in Tesco is important to so many of our staff because it gives them a personal stake in the company's success.

"Save As You Earn is a safe and convenient way for staff to save and have the option to buy shares.

"It is also one of the ways we aim to reward our people for their loyalty and continued efforts for customers, as well as being a thank you for all their hard work throughout the year."