Stores in Andover have started tagging baskets after a rise in thefts following the introduction of carrier bag charges.

One reader told the Advertiser that he was told by a member of staff at Tesco that 350 or more have been stolen since the introduction of the five pence charge.

A Tesco spokesman confirmed that there had been a problem with baskets being taken from the store, and the decision was made to tag them, although, he added, the figure of 350 basket thefts was off the mark.

The spokesman said:"We're always working to provide the best service we can for our customers and this includes making sure baskets are available for shoppers.

"In some cases it's been necessary to attach security tags to baskets to prevent them from being stolen."

He added that some other stores nationwide had done it too.

Andover's ASDA supermarket has also been tagging its baskets to prevent a rise in thefts.

An ASDA spokewoman said that tagging of baskets was done on a store by store basis, and that it was up to the store manager whether or not to implement it.

"It's not store policy, some stores do and some don't," she said.

"It has been a problem since Christmas time, however, since the carrier bag charges came into effect.

"As time went on it was decided that tagging was the best thing to do."

Both Sainsbury's and Waitrose said that they did not have any issues and don't tag their baskets in Andover.

Despite a number of baskets going missing in the area, Test Valley Borough Council said this week that it had not seen an increase in the number of abandoned shopping baskets in the town since the introduction of the five pence bag charge.