A PENSIONER has accused Sainsbury’s of “forgetting elderly people” with a perceived cutback on the number of checkouts it has open.

Bill Bateman said he was “disgusted” by the lack of readily available tills at the supermarket in Stanway on Wednesday morning.

The 83-year-old said shoppers were left with no option but to cram into a large queue up an aisle as they waited to be served at about 9.45am.

He claimed some people’s frozen food was thawing out in the aisle while others lost patience and ditched their trollies full with items.

Gazette: Frustration - Bill Bateman has criticised Sainsbury's' Stanway store over its checkoutsFrustration - Bill Bateman has criticised Sainsbury's' Stanway store over its checkouts (Image: Google)

Mr Bateman, who made the short trip up the A12 to the shop from his home in Cornwallis Drive, Marks Tey, said most of the people queuing were elderly and unable to operate a self-service till.

“The way Sainsbury’s are doing it now feels to me like they are forgetting the elderly people who don’t want to use the self-service,” said the pensioner.

“I am 83, modern technology is a no-no for me and it was for others in that queue too.”

Mr Bateman said the queue which built up caused “chaos” in the aisle, adding: “It was chock-a-block with people and their trollies all waiting for the same till.

Gazette: Criticism - Sainsbury's in StanwayCriticism - Sainsbury's in Stanway (Image: Google)

“The frozen stuff in my trolley was almost thawed out and yet the staff still refused to open another checkout.

“They just kept opening the self-service tills with no consideration for the people who don’t want to use them.”

A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman confirmed the number of self-service checkouts has been increased in recent weeks “to meet customer demand”.

“Our colleagues are on hand to help anyone who may need support and we continue to offer manned checkouts for our customers who wish to use them,” she added.

But Mr Bateman said: “A lot of elderly people like to talk to a cashier but Sainsbury’s are completely disregarding that.

“I was offered help on a self-service checkout but I was made to feel rushed and my items weren’t stacked to my liking.

“To be honest, I was absolutely disgusted with the customer service on display.”