Shoppers say they would be “devastated” to see Aldi “become like Tesco" after self-scan tills were rolled out across stores.

The branch of the supermarket in Cherry Tree Avenue, Dover, is one of those set to lose some of its manned till points as the bargain chain introduces a self-service option.

The changes will happen in the new year, and while some feel the move will speed up queues, others say it will drastically affect their shopping experience.

Whitfield resident Gaye Glanville says she will be "devastated" to see Aldi go the same way as other supermarkets, adding: "I usually go to Tesco and they have done the same - it does my head in.

"The queues are like Christmas now when you go up there.

"I'm really thinking twice about using Tesco now because it’s all self-service and there are too many people queuing up for assistance."

Shirley Dry, 74, who lives near the town centre, said: "I don’t come up here very often but when I do I prefer to go to a person because I’m not very good on them self-scans.

"It's quicker when someone does it for you.

"I will be sad to see some tills gone, but it's something we’ve got to get used to."

Shopper Peter says the whole reason he uses Aldi is to speak to the friendly staff.

The 78-year-old added: "At my age I’m not into technology.

"I would rather talk to a person - you can’t talk to machines.

"I’d have to think twice about coming here, but the trouble is they’re all doing it now - even my bank is closed in the town."

Echoing the concerns is Valerie Luthuli, of Herbert Street, who feels self-scan tills are difficult for older customers to use.

The 69-year-old said: "I like to go to the till and pay there, not self-scanning, because we old people are poor at it.

"It means every time when I’m coming there, I will need someone to help me.

"I won’t use them. If there is someone at the till, I would prefer to go to them."

However, some shoppers who only pop in for a few items at a time say they will welcome the changes.

Father-of-four Paul Martin, of Folkestone Road, uses the shop most days and believes introducing self-scans is a "great idea".

"The only bad thing about this store is the queues, but it's still worth coming because you can’t beat the prices,” he said.

"Self-service checkouts, if they get it together, should be good because at a lot of other shops you're stood around waiting for a member of staff."

Malcolm Stevens, 59, agrees, saying: "I think it will be a good idea because you can get stuck behind people with trolleys when you only go in for a couple of items, so it will make it a lot quicker.

Maria Savage, who lives near Christchurch Academy in Whitfield, feels the move could be good, so long as only a few tills are converted.

"I personally don’t like self-service tills; I like to be served by somebody, but it's just a matter of how they’re going to do it," she said.

"One or two would be OK, as long as we don’t lose too many of the normal tills.

"I work in a shop and I serve on a till and people can lose jobs if there are too many, and that’s the bad side of it."

It is not yet known how many of the eight tills will be replaced, but Aldi say the majority of stores which have made the move still have more manned checkouts than self-service points.

No jobs will be lost through the move.

An Aldi spokesperson said: “Following positive feedback, we’re extending our trial of self-checkouts to our Cherry Tree Avenue store to further improve customer experience.

"Checkouts manned by our amazing colleagues will still be available for customers who prefer to use these.”