Traders fear they will be forced out of business by a new Tesco Metro store which is selling premium vodka at discount prices in an area troubled by street drinking.

Longstanding shopkeepers in The Vale in Acton are reporting massive drops in takings as customers flock to the superstore, which opened there on September 22.

And police this week branded Tesco's decision to offer cheap crates of beer and 70cl bottles of Smirnoff vodka for just £8 as "irresponsible".

Tesco insists its new store will attract more customers to the surrounding shops and that it sells alcohol responsibly.

But Jai Patel, who runs the post office in The Vale, says his takings have been down by £1,500 a day, or 40 per cent, since the supermarket opened its doors.

He said: "It's going to affect everyone. The borough keeps on saying that they have a problem with alcohol around here, and Tesco have got vodka which is supposed to be sold at £10.99 which they're selling at £8. We can't even buy it wholesale at that price.

"I've decided I'm going to wait until January but if it comes to closing this post office down, I'll just close it and go."

And Sant Singh, of the nearby Greetings newsagents, said: "Everybody's takings are down. It's a new store and everyone is going at lunchtime and buying the bits and pieces that they used to buy here.

"They are very aggressive. It's the Wal-Martification of the UK and there is going to be an impact. With the credit crunch it's a not about emotions, it's about money."

Licensing sergeant Nigel Charlton said the store was complying with the conditions of its licence, but added: "I think it's irresponsible, and if you look across the whole of Tesco's range you can get a couple of crates of lager for £9, which works out at 40 to 50 pence a bottle, yet Tesco appears to be the supermarket leading the charge against cheap alcohol."

The offer on Smirnoff vodka is due to end on Tuesday.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: "People who are very keen on shopping locally will continue to do so, and we find it actually draws more people to the area if there's a Tesco down the road.

"We have offers on a number of different products at different times of the year, and something like vodka or a bottle of wine is generally bought as part of a family shop.

"We do sell alcohol responsibly and take our licensing responsibilities seriously."