I SENT an email to [email protected]">[email protected] following an accident my wife had due to the exit lane at the Tesco store in Crediton apparently not having been gritted or salted.

On each visit to the store during the bad weather the exit lane had been difficult to negotiate, whereas the entrance lane had been kept perfectly clear.

I received a reply from Tesco Customer Services on January 11 in which they state: "Our car park team try to make sure they grit all outside areas when required throughout the winter period. Although we do not have to do this, we like to do everything we can to ensure your safety.

"During severe weather conditions it can be difficult to make sure all areas are completely covered. As you may remember, there is a notice that states customers enter our park at their own risk. Although, I fully sympathise with your wife's situation we are unable to accept responsibility for the injury sustained."

I explained in my email to Tesco that on Friday, January 8, at approximately 3pm when trying to leave the store I joined a tailback of traffic stretching back into the car park, which was being caused by the difficulties cars were experiencing at the top 20 yards of the exit lane on to the roundabout.

I wrote: "I and several other drivers had to push cars that were skidding on the ice. My wife got out of the car to help and slipped up on the ice, breaking her wrist in two places.

"This was witnessed by a number of other customers who came to her assistance, including a nurse and all were complaining that it was almost impossible to stand.

"As a result my wife was taken to hospital in Exeter where she stayed until 7pm and had to have manipulation under anaesthetic.

"Her arm is now in plaster for at least two weeks. She has further appointments with the fracture clinic and has been told that it is likely that she will have to have a corrective operation at a later date.

"I hold Tesco responsible for this accident and will be seeking further advice. It is entirely unacceptable that this situation should have been left unattended. There were no warning signs in place and in my view the store has a duty of care to its paying customers to ensure that health and safety issues such as this are properly addressed."

Just about everyone I have spoken to since that Friday agrees with me that Tesco do not appear to have paid any attention to the exit lane and no doubt your readers will have had, seen or experienced the same situation if they visited the store during this period.

I do not understand why a company that announced record profits for 2009 exceeding £3bn and has this week boasted of record Christmas sales, could not adequately salt/grit (I understand that Morrissons used external contractors to ensure that their car park and access was clear), or provide adequate warnings or provide staff to assist cars that were getting into trouble.

I am sure that your readers will be as surprised as I am to learn that Tesco are not "required to do this" and feel that they should be warned of this situation when visiting Tesco.

I refute that they "do everything they can to ensure our safety".

It would appear that whilst they ensure that the entrance lane is kept clear so that customers still visit the store, the same vigilance is not applied once customers have spent their money!

I would also point out that it is not easy to contact Tesco with a complaint. You may wish to check, but I was unable to find anything on their website to enable this.

I only got the customer services email address from an external blog at tesco-complaint.blogspot.com .

Glenn Bearne

Greenslades Cottage

Knowle

Crediton