Tesco has been criticised by a customer and health coach for closing a salad bar in one of its Richmond stores and filling the space with biscuits.

The supermarket confirmed that it permanently closed the fresh salads bar at its Metro store on George Street several months ago and said the space was awaiting a signage update.

It also confirmed that the bar, now full of family packs of biscuits, had not been replaced elsewhere in the store.

It added that salad produce could be bought from the fresh food aisle.

Sarah Helen King spotted the bar filled with biscuits on a recent shopping trip.

Ms King, the founder of health coaching firm Invigorise, said: "The UK has the highest rate of obesity in Europe.

"Britain's leading supermarkets have committed to help reduce this health epidemic by not promoting high fat and high sugar foods in prominent places.

"The fact Tesco got rid of the salad bar in favour of promoting large boxes of multi-pack biscuits at their key focal selling point will be influencing every customer who walks through their doors.

"This sends absolutely the wrong message."

Tesco did not comment further on its reasons for closing the bar.