Thames 'may be used for supermarket delivery'

Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury's are all making plans to try and use the waterway as a possible line of transportation, the Evening Standard said.

A trial of the technique proved problematic, a spokeswoman at Sainsbury's noted, because the river is not normally utilised for such purposes.

"We have given our feedback to the Port of London Authority and this is something we would like to make happen. If the infrastructure was there we would have continued. We are exploring how to go forward," she stated.

Both Tesco, which uses the Manchester Ship Canal to ship products, and Waitrose said that they are looking at the possibility the Thames could be used as a delivery channel in the future.

"Canals are being evaluated and it's possible London ones will be used soon," a Tesco spokesman commented.