A MAJOR change has taken place at a supermarket in Malmesbury due to 'customer demand'. 

Extra self-scan checkouts have recently been introduced at the town's Waitrose store, which is situated just off the A429 in Avon Mills, Malmesbury.

The number of self checkouts in the supermarket has increased from three to 11 and four traditional face-to-face tills remain. 

Waitrose has indicated that this will be a widespread change in their supermarkets across the country because the majority of their sales are now put through self-service checkouts.

This change has divided opinion in Malmesbury and many residents have expressed their discontent about it on social media.

On the Our Malmesbury Facebook group, one loyal customer commented: "Waitrose’s reputation is built on a perceived personal relationship between customers and staff - I am not alone in being on first name terms with at least five of the checkout personnel. 

"The current policy totally undermines an ethos that has been built over many years."

Another added: "Its wrong on many levels...it was one of the few places you could go and have a nicer time of it, the luxury of an actual human being to help you."

Some outraged shoppers have written letters to the Waitrose & Partners Head Office in Bracknell which express their disappointment. 

However, others have welcomed the change and said that self checkouts provide a faster and easier experience. 

One customer said: "Personally I’m a Scan Pay Go shopper, so more self checkouts will mean less queuing to pay, which I certainly welcome.

"I think a very sensible update to the store."

A spokesperson for Waitrose has assured residents that they want to provide their customers with a range of options and will continue to offer a personal service. 

They said: "With more and more customers choosing self checkouts, we've introduced more of these tills to meet demand.

"While these can be quicker and more convenient, we know some customers prefer a personal service, so we still have plenty of conventional tills and friendly Partners on hand to help."