AN Asda store in Southampton where hundreds of shopping trolleys have disappeared has had part of a replacement shipment taken within days of arrival.

The new fleet of 240 trolleys, worth £30,000, was delivered to the Portland Terrace store to make up for 300 that went missing in just ten days last month.

Now 20 of the new carts have gone within 48 hours of their arrival, bringing the total cost of missing trolleys to nearly £45,000.

Customer services manager Sue Hendy said: "I can't believe that in such a short time more trolleys have been taken away.

"I went round and counted all the new ones on Sunday after the weekend and couldn't believe it when I realised 20 more had gone."

The store has a policy where it will unlock trolleys when customers want to take their shopping outside and load it on to a taxi.

However, Sue says the trust is broken when the trolleys are wheeled away instead, adding: "After supervising this Saturday night I had to stop a number of people who began taking the trolleys after we had unlocked them for them.

"It is disappointing - especially when it is the customers that are frustrated when there aren't enough trolleys to go around."

Staff searching for the trolleys have donated £1 to BBC's Children in Need for each one spotted by Daily Echo readers.

So far, 16 trolleys have been found.

If you know where any Asda trolleys are contact the Daily Echo newsdesk on 023 8042 4500.