Over 200 trolleys a week used to disappear from our store

Allan Miller Asda

It is fitted with a sensor which is triggered if it crosses the supermarket's boundaries, causing a shield to drop down over the wheels and stop the runaway cart.

Asda's Livingston store manager, Allan Miller, said the problem of abandoned trolleys littering the countryside was one of the main sources of complaints about supermarkets.

He said: "Over 200 trolleys a week used to disappear from our store and would turn up elsewhere in the Livingston area.

"Since the new system has been installed, we are delighted that we have not lost a single trolley from the store.

"The techno trolley system ensures that there are always plenty of trolleys available for our customers.

Pilot scheme

"More importantly, Asda is pledging its support to help keep the surrounding areas cleaner and greener, with fewer abandoned trolleys spoiling the landscape."

Mr Miller added that the trolleys would be rolled out to other Asda stores in Britain if the pilot scheme proved a success.

The move was backed by the Keep Scotland Beautiful campaign, which said it would be keeping an eye on the techno trolley's progress.

National director John Summers said: "We congratulate Asda for introducing this innovative scheme to tackle the abandoned shopping trolley menace.

"Prevention is far better than cure and the benefits to the quality of the local environment will be welcomed by all."