ASDA customers have blasted changes to a store which they say have led to the car park getting full up at peak times.

The store at the Pipps Hill Retail Park in Basildon has been extended to include a clothing department and cafe.

But shoppers say this has led to the exisiting car park, which hasn’t been altered, getting clogged up during peak times, such as week day lunchtimes.

Shoppers have complained they are being forced to park near the Halfords and DFS stores because of the lack of space near Asda.

Some shoppers say they have been forced to drive away without even entering the store because they could not find a space, while others have started shopping online because of the problem.

Linda Roberts, 59, of Deacon Drive, Laindon, said: “It’s a nightmare whatever time of day I come down here.

“The last time I drove here I couldn’t park at all and had to come back on Sunday instead.”

Kim Stockman, 51, of Billericay, said: “You have to drive round and round forever before you can get parked.”

The car park has 334 spaces, but they are shared between several other stores at the northern end of the retail park.

A spokesman for the supermarket stated there were no plans to extend the car park, and added it did not believe the refurbishment was having much effect on the number of customers visiting.

Asda’s property communications manager, Avnish Raichura, said: “The planning application for the redevelopment proposed no alterations to the car park. The improvements to the store are aimed at benefitting existing customers who would already be visiting the store.

“It is not considered to generate significant levels of new customers.”