ABANDONED supermarket trolleys have been causing a nuisance around residential streets since the store decided to remove the coin locks.

Before Christmas, Morrisons, in Davies Road, Evesham stopped using the trolley lock system where shoppers use a pound coin or disc to remove trolleys from the trolley parking bays.

They claim feedback from customers revealed the locks were regarded as a nuisance if they didn't have a coin on them and preferred the unlocked system.

But one resident says it encourages people to leave their trolleys after they have loaded their cars. He has found trolleys abandoned near his home in Wood End but his complaints have fallen on deaf ears when he has approached staff.

Daniel Westbury says he has returned countless numbers of trolleys that he has found.

"They have been appearing all over the place since the store took the locks off including near my home around 150 metres away. Most of the time I don't even get a thanks but they did say they cost £70 each to buy so I can't understand why they don't look after them," said Mr Westbury.

It's only happened since the locks were removed. A lot of people can't be bothered to take them back to the bay because they don't need to get their pound coin out. They just leave them and sometimes kids take them away. I've even dragged them out of Battleton brook because they have ended up being thrown in there and could end up blocking it. I pulled one out and wheeled it round dripping, green and filthy. It was a real mess but I just left it in the middle of the others. If they are left in the brook they will not only become useless they will block it and cause it to flood. There is also a danger that the trolleys will damage parked cars."

Mr Westbury, who is a customers of Morrisons, has taken several photographs of abandoned trolleys and has spoken to staff about the problem, but he says and they have just shrugged.

"I know a lot of people are complaining about loose trolleys but the store doesn't seem to see it as a problem. They also don't rush to collect them when they are reported; that's why I have taken them round myself," he said.

A spokesman for Morrisons said they removed the locks following customer feedback. He told the Journal: “Our customers tell us that they find trolley locks inconvenient, especially when they don’t have a pound coin. Many shoppers really appreciate easy access to a trolley as they arrive at our stores.

“However, we’re also concerned about abandoned trolleys around our Evesham store. We’re very grateful to the local community and those people who go out of their way to help. Our trolleys are valuable to us and whenever strays are reported to one of our colleagues, we send a team out as soon as possible to recover them.

“We hope that these thefts will not continue and that the police and council will support us in safeguarding them.”