A supermarket giant whose roots lie in Hackney has agreed to work with London Citizens to build safer high streets for the future.

Corporate responsibility and community director for Tesco, Ruth Girardet, pledged support for the capital’s largest alliance of people at a service in St John-at-Hackney church in Lower Clapton Road.

Hackney was chosen as a symbolic place to launch the collaboration because Hackney was one of the worst affected areas by the riots, and also because Tesco’s first store was set up in Well Street.

Sebastien Chapleau, the Hackney representative for London Citizens said it was a major step forward in terms of the “market recognising the people.”

“What happened to their stores this summer is making this potential partnership quite relevant - so many of their stores were damaged, which has left many high streets scared,” he said.

“There are Tesco stores everywhere, and we have member institutions everywhere too, so our aim is to find a way to work together for the common good.

“They’re not going to go, and neither are we: therefore, we need to find ways to become good neighbours.”

More meetings to draw up a plan will be held in the next few weeks.