Security guard in Tesco Extra Reading roof protest

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-41600332

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A security guard who claims he was "sacked for no reason" by Tesco has spent the night protesting in the supermarket's roof space.

He has been on the girders above the checkouts in Tesco Extra, Reading, for more than 14 hours, live-streaming on Facebook.

Shoppers were told to abandon their trolleys and leave the store as he climbed to the roof yelling.

Tesco said it was "assisting police with the matter".

The man's wife is outside the Portman Road supermarket supporting him.

She told BBC Berkshire reporter Nick Johnson "he will not be coming down willingly" and they are prepared to "accept the consequences".

He is understood to be in a long-running dispute with the supermarket and its security firm, TSS.

In his Facebook videos, the last one of which was posted at 05:15, he claims Tesco "damaged my reputation" and "sacked me for no reason"

He is believed to be the same man seen protesting outside the supermarket for several months with banners.

The store was evacuated after Thames Valley Police received reports concerning the "welfare of a man".

Customers reported being told to abandon their shopping when the man began "yelling" from the ceiling of the store, although they could not understand what he was saying.

A Tesco spokeswoman said the company was still establishing the circumstances of the incident but believed the man had not been directly employed by Tesco but was a member of security staff.

A statement said: "We're aware of an incident at our Reading West Extra store and are assisting police with the matter."

TSS has been contacted for a response.