Supermarket giant Tesco has defied calls to install a coin-operated system in a bid to stop trolleys being abandoned in Witham.

Witham town councillors want the superstore at the back of Grove Centre in Newland Street to introduce the coin slots to prevent trolleys being stolen and vandals dumping them on streets or in the nearby River Brain.

It has been an ongoing problem in the town despite the town council taking extra measures to try to curb it.

And the general issue of abandoned trolleys came under the spotlight this week with a landmark court case where Tesco was brought before the court after trolleys were dumped in a Chelmsford river.

Tesco in Witham has introduced an extra four members of staff to patrol the car park and the surrounding area.

But the supermarket has refused calls to help solve the problem further by immediately introducing coin slots in Witham.

A spokeswoman from Tesco regional office said: "We are aware of the problem at the Witham store and we do take the issue very seriously.

"Coin operated systems are very much a last resort as customers do not like it. It might be something that we look at in the future."

Town councillor Tom Hewitt said: "I'm not very happy as we're still seeing trolleys all over the place. I think that we may have to take the matter up with Braintree District Council."

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