Morrisons has announced it has extended its opening hours at nearly half of its stores in a bid to win back market share in the tough market.

The grocer’s stores will stay open for an extra 1600 hours per week so that stores will now be open from 6am -11pm at 490 of its shops.

Morrisons boss Dalton Philips said stores “need to be open for longer” to meet the demands of “modern family life, flexible working hours and busy schedules”.

Additional improvements made by the store which include the removal of trolley locks, the redesign of more than 277 stores, the refurbishment of store cafes, the building of new petrol stations, the refurbishment of baby change and toilet facilities, and the updating of car park controls.