A SUPERMARKET has refused to deliver groceries to Penhill after dark, claiming it is unsafe for delivery drivers.

Sainsbury’s told mum Rachel Smart, 33, she has to change her usual 9pm delivery time to during the day.

And now the busy mother-of-four intends to take her online custom elsewhere as she feels the store is discriminating against her estate.

She said: “It made me feel like I’m not good enough for Sainsbury’s, as I live in Penhill.

“I feel completely shocked. I will never shop there again if that is their attitude towards people like me.”

Rachel, who lives in Penhill Drive, prefers to get her online order later at night when her children are in bed so she has time to put the food away. But she was surprised to see a van turn up about three hours early at 6pm last week.

Rachel asked the driver to come back later, but he said that was not possible and handed her a letter with a phone number to call.

After getting through to Sainsbury’s she was told drivers felt uncomfortable delivering in the area.

“It is not that bad in Penhill,” said Rachel.

“It is like not parts of Liverpool or London. It makes me feel annoyed and upset. Most people I have told also find it disgusting. It is as if nobody in Penhill can be trusted.

“I am quite happy here and don’t feel threatened after dark.”

Rachel prefers to shop online rather than take her children to the store and has been using the service for 18 months.

“That is what online shopping is for – convenience,” she said. “It is not convenient for me to have my groceries delivered in the day.” The store refunded her last £3.50 delivery fee and gave her a £10 voucher but Rachel does not even want to go into the supermarket to use it.

Sainsbury’s said it is doing a risk assessment on whether Penhill does pose a danger to drivers. But it has backtracked on its previous stance, saying it is still making up its mind.

A spokeswoman said that it had only officially withdrawn delivery to two postcodes in Glasgow and London.

Coun David Glaholm (Ind, Penhill) was appalled when he heard about the supermarket’s actions.

He said: “That is terrible. It is shocking that a well known supermarket should take that stance with Penhill – why not somewhere else? There are other areas in the town with an alleged higher crime rate, such as Pinehurst. Perhaps people in Penhill should take their custom elsewhere.”

Marilyn Beale, of community group Penhill Forum, said: “I am appalled. People from Penhill should not shop in Sainsbury’s. This feels like discrimination and and prejudice.”

The Adver rang Sainsbury’s during the weekend posing as a Penhill customer to find out the supermarket’s reaction to more people asking for late deliveries in Penhill.

The Bridgemead store’s online manager Sasha Walton said drivers may feel uncomfortable after dark.

“They are not allowed to put themselves at risk,” she said.

She confirmed she had been in discussion with a lady in Penhill about the issue.

Asda said it has no problem delivering to Penhill at any hour.

A spokeswoman said: “We deliver to that postcode and there are no time or delivery restrictions.”

A Tesco spokesman said: “We certainly deliver after dark in that area.”

SAINSBURY’S has done a U-turn and decided to continue delivering to Penhill until after it evaluates the risks. A spokeswoman said: “We want to serve our customers well at all times, but it is also our responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of our colleagues. “Because of the safety concerns of our delivery drivers, we are in the process of carrying out a risk assessment on a small part of our delivery route, which will be completed shortly. Until then, all delivery time slots will be open to all the areas we deliver to. “The correct procedure is that the risk assessment should have been completed before the store took any action. The risk assessment relates to Penhill and will be completed shortly.”