Tesco chairman John Allan is to step down next month after the supermarket said allegations over his behaviour risked becoming a distraction. 

Mr Allan, who had been due to leave as chairman next year, will now quit at Tesco's annual general meeting next month.
The decision follows several allegations in recent weeks over Mr Allan's behaviour.

He had been accused of inappropriate and unprofessional behaviour on four separate occasions, denying all but one of the claims.

Mr Allan admitted to comments on a worker's appearance at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) in 2019, when he had been the president of the business group.

The 74-year-old denies separate claims that he touched a Tesco employee at last year's annual meeting, and another woman at the CBI's annual dinner in May 2019.

Byron Grote, senior independent director at Tesco, has been named as interim chairman, while a replacement is found.

He said: "John has made a valuable contribution to Tesco during his 8 years as chair. 

"While we have received no complaints about John's conduct and made no findings of wrongdoing, these allegations risk becoming a distraction to Tesco. On behalf of the board, I thank him for his substantial contribution to the business. 

"We are well advanced in our search for a new chair and will make an announcement in due course."