A SUPERMARKET has presented MP David Chaytor with a petition to open pharmacies in its stores.

The petition supports the Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) report which has recommended an end to the "closed-shop" which Asda says prevents it from opening pharmacies where shoppers demand them.

Signatures collected at the Asda stores in Radcliffe, Bury and Pilsworth, formed the basis of the petition. It was presented to the Bury North MP at the Asda store in Spring Street, Bury.

Shoppers had been asked to support the call for the Government to implement OFT recommendations to allow Asda to open pharmacies.

The OFT, which proposes deregulation to improve pharmacy services, has presented its report to the Government which is now considering how best to implement the findings.

In the independent review, deregulation would lead to more pharmacies, longer opening hours, improved services and lower prices.

Asda's local general managers say that, whenever they ask their customers what additional services should be provided, "pharmacy comes out top by miles".

During the OFT investigation into pharmacy licences, Asda provided evidence that the current system was, in their words, a "closed-shop" that failed to work in the best interest of patients.

The company argued that millions of pounds a year could be cut from UK shopping bills for medicines and said patients would receive a better service with up to ten per cent more pharmacies in a greater variety of locations if the current regulations were abolished.