TOWN shoppers were left "wheely" confused when they arrived at a Spa supermarket to find that no shopping trolleys were available for that quick dash round the aisles.

Dozens of bemused customers could not separate the rows of trolleys at the town's Safeway store following a delivery of special coin operated carriers.

The store, off the Saltway, ordered the trolleys, which require a £1 deposit before they can be moved, in a bid to slash the numbers of trolleys being taken off the site and dumped in streets and the Droitwich Canal.

But the plan backfired when the new trolleys refused to separate

Droitwich Spa town councillor John Cook (Lab, Droit.West) said: "It was quite ridiculous.

"There were lots of people wanting to buy goods, but they couldn't get a trolley to put their things in.

"Many residents weren't aware Safeway was changing its policy and did not have any change."

Dumping

However, on a more serious note, Cllr Cook added: "If this move discourages people from dumping trolleys across the town centre then I definitely support it.

"It's just a shame the scheme's first day in operation wasn't a little better organised."

Deputy mayor Terry Spencer (Con, Droit.Central) congratulated the supermarket.

He told the Advertiser: "The town council has spent years trying to solve the problems of abandoned trolleys, only last week I retrieved one from the canal.

"I'm pleased Safeway has listened to our concerns."

A Safeway press officer confessed that there was initially a problem with some carriers being stuck together last Thursday, but said this was quickly solved.

"We hope the introduction of the coin operated scheme will discourage people from taking trolleys off the site," she added.