AS supermarkets became ever bigger, they boasted of the big number of check-outs, some going up to 30 odd.

Has anyone been shopping lately in Tesco and Sainsbury’s? Both have closed down almost two thirds of them and instead have opened up numerous self-service ones, leaving no more than six-odd serviced by their own personnel.

Result – obvious – huge crowds of customers with full trolleys queuing for the appropriate length of time.

To one’s total frustration, check-out after check-out remaining closed, unmanned.

Are these supermarkets really expecting their customers with 40 and more items to go through a self-service one?

JOHN TOYNE, Harvey Road, Bournemouth