Swindon shoppers have been left disappointed by Aldi's decision to stop offering a click-and-collect service. 

The budget supermarket chain first introduced the service in September 2020 and eventually rolled it out into over 200 stores across the UK - including many in Swindon. 

But this year it decided to withdraw the service and by the end of last week, all of the Aldi stores that did offer it stopped. 

The company wrote to customers to let them know and said: "One of the ways we keep our prices low for customers is by running the most efficient supermarket business in Britain. As a result, we've made the decision to bring our Click and Collect service to an end so we can focus on doing just that."

They added: "Although you will no longer be able to order your shopping to collect, you can still get your favourite items, including all of our Specialbuys by coming into store.

"May we take this opportunity to thank you for using this service, and for shopping at Aldi. We hope to see you in store very soon."

But some locals have disagreed with the decision and feel it will make it harder for some to shop at their local Aldis and will force them to go to other supermarkets instead. 

One member of the public, who did not wish to be named, said: "My grandparents would frequently use the Aldi click and collect service because they are not really able to manage a full shopping trip around the store anymore. 

"They loved Aldi but are now having to find another supermarket that will let them do the same thing."

Another, also wishing to remain anonymous, added: "It's a bizarre decision, I simply don't have the time these days to spend walking down the aisles so I find being able to just pop in and have my shop brought out to me really convenient."

The click and collect service involved customers paying £4.99 to have their online shopping brought to them in the car park by a store worker within a scheduled time slot, and was initially brought in as a trial. 

Last year, Aldi withdrew home delivery of general merchandise and wines and spirits - a service it launched in 2015 - and in 2022 it ended a two-partnership with Deliveroo involving 130 stores.