Tesco has moved to calm the storm on Twitter after it appeared to advertise a job with no pay.

The grocer advertised a position on the Jobcentre Plus website as a night shift worker in East Anglia but only offered Job Seekers’ Allowance plus expenses.

The position was posted on Twitter and Facebook and quickly began trending as users vented their anger as the UK’s largest private sector employer appeared to be advertising a job with no pay.

But Tesco moved to quell the storm of comments, blaming the ad on an IT error and explained it is a work experience job as part of the Government’s Sector Based Work Academies programme which is linked to payment of benefits.

A spokesman said: “The advert is a mistake caused by an IT error by Jobcentre Plus and is being rectified. It is an advert for work experience with a guaranteed job interview at the end of it as part of a government-led work experience scheme.

“We take our responsibility as Britain’s biggest private sector employer seriously. This includes giving young people valuable experience of the workplace, and 300 young people have so far gone on to get permanent employment with us as a result of work experience in recent months, but not as a replacement or substitute for our permanent staff.

“In general, Tesco staff receive a higher level of basic pay than any other supermarket, without exception.”