Community leaders have reacted with shock after a Tesco colleague was attacked outside a store in Andover.

A 62-year-old man was taken to hospital with a “life-threatening” head injury after being attacked outside the store on July 29 at around 21:15. Following the incident, four Andover residents have been arrested by police in connection with the assault.

Kit Malthouse, Andover’s MP, reassured the community following the incident, telling the Advertiser: "This is a horrific incident which will have shocked many across Andover, not least those who sadly witnessed it.

“I have been briefed this afternoon by Chief Inspector Thorne at Andover Police Station and I am grateful to him and his team for acting so quickly, both in response to this incident and then on the subsequent investigation.

“All our thoughts are with the victim and his loved ones."

Meanwhile, St. Mary’s ward councillors on Test Valley Borough Council have also expressed their sympathies for the victim and his family, with Councillor Iris Andersen telling the Advertiser: "I was shocked to hear of this incident, and my thoughts are with the poor family and what they must be going through."

Cllr Jan Budzynski, who was newly elected to the ward in May’s local elections, added: “I believe that the use of violence is abhorrent and I hope the injured man makes a full recovery, my thoughts go to his family.”