DUMPED shopping trolleys are blighting a Colchester neighbourhood.

People say the number of trolleys wheeled away from the Tesco High Woods store and abandoned nearby has increased during the snowy weather.

In just one hour, the Gazette counted more than 20 in the area, including nine in Chinook, two in Harvard Court, two in Northfield Gardens and two at the Sioux Close play area.

Residents claimed 12 have been left in Kinlett Close during the past week.

The trolley wheels are supposed to lock when they are pushed away from the store, however residents believe the snow may have affected sensors fitted to the wheels.

Barbara Francis, 61, of Tony Webb Close, High Woods, said: “They are an eye sore, and what’s more worrying is the children get in to them and push each other about.

“If a trolley fell over while a child was riding in it, they could smash their head in or hit a parked car. Tesco should join other supermarkets and make you put £1 in for the trolley – that would soon sort it out.”

Leigh Marshall, 18, an expectant mum of Chinook, said: “They are meant to lock as soon as they go outside Tesco’s premises, but it obviously doesn’t work because they are everywhere.

“It has always been a problem, but it has definitely got worse with the snow.

“The people who take them should think about not leaving their shopping so long they have to take a trolley to get it home.”

Beverley Oxford, independent ward councillor for High Woods, said she was told Tesco staff had been instructed not to collect the trolleys during the wintry weather for health and safety reasons.

She added: “It does look a mess, but surely the responsibility comes down to the people who take these trolleys to return them?”

A Tesco spokesman said: “Our staff spend a lot of time and effort collecting trolleys.

“When the bad weather occurred, it might have represented a few more challenges.”

* The Gazette counted the following number of abandonded trolleys in High Woods:

California Close 1

Harvard Court 2

Northfield Gardens 2

Sioux Close play area 2

Chinook 9

Tony Webb Close 1

Berkley Close 1

Derwent Road 1

Eastwood Drive 1

Gazelle Court 1