IT can be a nightmare walking round the supermarket when you've got triplets. You can pop two in the trolley seats ... but what do you do with the third child?

Tesco came up with the answer when Julie Tiffney - mother of triplets Charles, William and Mollie Dickinson - wrote to the store at Askham Bar, York, appealing for help.

The supermarket giant bought a special "double decker" trolley capable of carrying not only two, and not even three, but four children.

Now the triplets, who were born on Christmas Eve in 1998, and whose father is former York rugby league player Robert Dickinson, can all be safely tucked in their seats before Julie sets off down the supermarket aisle.

"Tesco have been absolutely fabulous," said Julie, of Foxwood Lane, York.

"You aren't really allowed to put three children on the normal seats for two. I used to put one of the triplets inside the trolley with the food but they were getting too big for that. Now you just put them in and off you go.

"There are quite a few triplets in York, but it will also be useful for other people with several children. People have been coming up to say it's absolutely marvellous."

A Tesco spokeswoman said the firm had been delighted to be able to assist when Julie had contacted the store to ask for help.

PICTURE: THREE-LOADER: Rob Dickinson and triplets Mollie, top, William, left, and Charles, try out the special trolley at the Tesco superstore at Askham Bar

Picture: Nigel Holland