SUPERMARKETS south of the Border are being called on to do more to combat trolley thefts as defiant shoppers try to evade new plastic bag charges. 

Consumers have been taking to social media to post pictures of themselves with shopping trolleys, claiming they would rather lose the £1 they cost to use than pay 5p for a bag.

Supermarket chains are being urged to introduce tougher measures to reduce thefts, and stop the “blight” of empty carts being discarded on streets and in canals.

The charges in Scotland have been in place for a year and have been seen as a success, with shoppers using  650 million fewer plastic bags in the 12 months since the 5p levy came into effect.

Councillor Peter Box, environment spokesman for England’s Local Government Association, said: “Supermarkets need to slam the brakes on trolley thefts because the country is becoming blighted with abandoned carts.

“We want to see the supermarket giants step up their game and show real leadership over this issue.”