SUPERMARKET bosses have applied the brakes on shoppers who steal shopping trolleys - by investing in the latest hi-tech equipment.

Three Asda stores in the North-East are declaring war on the trolley thieves by installing their own "techno trollies" - a new cart that automatically hits the brakes when it's taken out of the store carpark. The trolleys are fitted with a transmitter that triggers a signal if it passes the store boundary. This lowers a force field and brings the trolley to a halt.

Following successful trials at six stores around the country, the store chain is introducing the trollies at stores in Thornaby on Teesside, Washington in Tyne and Wear, and Cramlington, Northumberland.

Stolen trolleys cost Asda about £2m a year and it's hoped the new model, which costs £2.4m for all 37 stores, will pay for itself within 12 months.

Vicky Van Den Biggelaar, manager of Asda Thornaby, reckons the new trolley will be a success with customers, as well as staff. She said: "Missing shopping trolleys cost us money and, as a knock-on effect, means customers do not always have the trolleys they want.

"Everyone will benefit when we install these new trolleys. Unfortunately however, I don't know if they have invented one yet that will never have wonky wheels."