A SUPERMARKET has been ordered to clean up its act following complaints its grounds have fallen into a state of disrepair.

Steven Cole, Tory councillor for the island's Winter Gardens ward, believes the area surrounding M Local, in Link Road, Canvey, looks a mess because of damage to the supermarket car park.

The Morrisons convenience store only opened in January 2015, replacing the former Silver Jubilee pub.

Mr Cole said: “It looks like the company can’t be bothered to keep the grounds and the outside of the store looking nice.

“There is a broken Morrisons sign outside the store which has not been fixed and it looks terrible. It has been left up and is rusting away.

“The grounds are in a bad state and it just looks messy. It is unfair for residents in the area because it makes the whole area look a mess.

“There are cracked paving slabs outside the store and some of the car parking area is cracked and uneven.

“Canvey councillors and I have been working hard and tirelessly to improve the area and have been working on the roads and the pavements. We were hoping that when Morrisons took over the store that it would help to spruce up the area a bit.

“The state of the grounds of the store makes the area look rundown and it is not right or fair for the people of Canvey living nearby the shop.”

Veteran Tory councillor Ray Howard, who represents the island's West ward, officially opened the M Local last year.

He has vowed to work with Mr Cole on the problems surrounding the store.

Mr Howard said: "I think it is a shame that it has become untidy and I think it would be a shame to if the area surrounding the store in Link Road and the surrounding roads were to deteriorate. It is a nice area around there and we don’t want to see the area deteriorate."

The Echo contacted Morrisons for a comment.