Anger as Sainsburys and Morrisons supermarkets in Greater Manchester bring in rules shoppers aren't happy about

Greater Manchester supermarkets are bringing in increasing measures to deter shoplifters - but many shoppers are unhappy about it.

Sainsburys and Morrisons are among the retailers to introduce electronic gates which bar customers from leaving a store until they scan their receipts.

The move has been criticised by many customers, with threats by some shoppers to boycott the retailers. Sainsbury's said this was 'not a new measure', while Morrisons said the measures had recently been introduced to one store in south Manchester.

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The measures have been spotted in a number of Greater Manchester shops, including Morrisons in Chorlton and Sainsbury's in Regent Retail Park and Fallowfield.

But shoppers have reacted angrily to the measure on social media. Peter Burton said: "We have stopped shopping at Sainsbury's. I wonder how many people have done the same."

Others pointed out issues with the gates preventing shoppers from simply browsing or checking if a product is in stock. Vickie Hamilton said: "The problem comes when you pop in and they haven't got what you want, you then need to tailgate out of the store like a robber!! Otherwise you can't get out. The Fallowfield store I get it but really!"

Shoppers at the Fallowfield Sainsbury's have also been made to scan their receipt before leaving (Manchester Evening News)

Some have hit out at stores for 'making the shopper do your job for you,' telling them to 'employ humans instead'.

However, some said the measures did not cause them a problem. Diane Kearney wrote: "I have been through these in Edinburgh and don’t see the problem."

While Patricia Smith said: "I support Sainsburys, if you paid for your shopping you have nothing to worry about."

And others added that similar measures have been in place in shops such as Makro, Costco, IKEA and Stax for 'years'.

A Sainsbury's spokesperson said that this is "not a new security measure and features in a small number of our stores at the self-service checkout areas."

A Morrisons spokesperson said: "We have recently introduced electronic gates into our Chorlton store. Any customers who haven't made a purchase simply need to ask the Morrisons Customer Assistant manning the self-service tills to open the gate for them."