THE revamped Devizes branch of Sainsbury's has had a Marmite reception from regular customers.

While some love the more spacious feel and new lighting others hate the reduction in manned tills and creation of more self-service check outs.

Nearly everyone, who has written to the Gazette or taken to social media to voice an opinion on the new-look store which re-opened last Wednesday after a week's refit, has praised the helpful staff.

But even they are not enough for some regular shoppers who now say they will take their custom to rivals such as Morrisons or M &S.

Among those who are upset about the changes is Paul Kerriage, 57, from Etchilhampton, who has been shopping in the store since he moved to the Devizes area about nine months ago.

He said: "I regret to report that the Sainsbury's re-jig is proof that improved can actually mean not as good as it was."

He is not a fan of self-service tills but more annoying for him is the disappearance of at least six products that he normally buys on a weekly basis.

He said: "I prefer Sainsburys but I will have to go to Morrisons to see if they have these products such as certain types of cereal and oat cakes. It could then turn out that I do the whole of my shop in Morrisons."

Retirees Tim and Elaine Goodacre, who moved to Devizes four years ago, are also upset. Mr Goodacre, 62, of Anzio Road, said: "I was very disappointed to see whole banks of self service tills at both ends of the store and only five manned tills in total.

"Do Sainsbury's imagine everyone wants to scan their own items ?

"There were long queues at the manned tills and hardly anyone at the self service tills. I think it is extremely arrogant of Sainsbury's to try and force customers down the self service till route."

He said that he and his wife had now decided to mainly shop at M & S. He said: "We have been forced into it reluctantly. We prefer Sainsbury's but we do not want to be bullied about how we should shop."

A Sainsbury's spokesman said: "We aim to please all of our customers and are sorry to hear if someone hasn’t enjoyed shopping with us as much as usual. Since the store re-opened we have had lots of positive comments about the self-checkouts and the new layout. We recognise that not all customers like the changes but we encourage them to keep giving feedback to the store as we are keen to understand how the changes are working to make sure we deliver the best experience for as many customers as possible."