UK supermarket Tesco is to cut 4,500 jobs from its 153 UK Metro stores in a bid to improve performance.

The Metro stores, which opened in 1992, were originally designed for larger weekly shops, but today nearly 70% of customers use them as convenience stores to buy food for the day.

The retailer also plans to reduce operating hours at 134 of its Express convenience stores.

The move comes amidst intense competition from discounters Aldi and Lidl, who are opening more small urban stores.

Tesco says it needs to change format as customers have changed their shopping habits, and are now visiting stores more frequently but for smaller amounts.

It is trying to steer its conventional grocery business into a leaner operation, after cutting thousands of jobs earlier this year by removing fresh delis, meat and fish from some of its larger stores.

Tesco is in the midst of trying to save £1.5bn, as the competition from budget rivals Aldi and Lidl continues to put pressure on the big four UK supermarkets.