A Kent supermarket has divided opinion after revealing it will shut for almost a week to make half of its tills self-service.

Aldi in Herne Bay has announced it is pushing ahead with the cost-cutting move, reigniting the long-running debate over cashiers versus do-it-youself scanners.

The news has not gone down well with some shoppers who fear it will confuse the elderly and eventually lead to job losses.

But the hi-tech gadgetry is welcomed by others who say it will speed up queues at manned checkouts.

Nevertheless, the King's Road store will close its doors on September 15 for six days while the building is decked out with the new machines.

Regular shopper Lesley McDowell will be sad to see the changes and worries staff could be laid off in the future.

“My concerns are that there would be potential job losses, and I think that’s a pity,” she said.

“People make a lot of difference and they are very pleasant here.

“It’s a nice experience which will go, and that’s a shame.”

The 77-year-old added that she would be happy to keep shopping at Aldi if there is an even mixture of both checkout styles - but does not want to see self-service take over.

So she will be reassured to know Aldi is planning to split the style of tills on offer exactly in half, with seven of each available.

But the numbers will not appease Lynda Hencher, who visits the Kings Road store two or three times a week and says she doubts she will use an unmanned checkout.

“Why do you want to change it?” the 77-year-old asked.

“I’m perfectly happy with it the way it is. I’d rather they leave it - there’s nothing wrong with it.

“I probably won’t use the self-service checkouts once they’ve put them in.”

However, another frequent shopper at the budget chain is all for change, hoping to soon be beeping her groceries through unhindered.

Susan Smith, 68, exclaimed: “I think it’s a very good idea.

“When you’ve only got a couple of items you won’t have to get in long queues - so yes, I’m fine with it.

“I’ll use them if I only have a few items - not a full trolley of shopping, but for a few items it will be fine.”

Also in favour of self-service is Sabrina Boyle, who will be happy to see the end of long queues.

“I think it will be a good decision.” the 45-year-old said.

“It will be quicker if I just pop in and get one or two things. The queues can be really, really long because they only have a few tills open.

“It would actually move things along quicker, just for the few bits. I’ll be using them.”

The capabilities of elderly shoppers using the new machines has been brought into question by local Ann Betts.

While she says she is fine to scan her own shopping, the 68-year-old worries those approaching 80 may struggle.

She stated: “I think it’s good for my age group, which is 60s to 70s, but older than that I don’t think they would be able to cope very well.

“Older people like the usual - going shopping and someone serving them and coming out again - but I think a lot of them will get in a pickle with the new tills.

“I’m not sure about them, but I know we have to adjust to things.

“It's quick in some ways for people, but the older generation, I don't think they like them very much.”

Self-scan tills have become more prominent in recent years, but Aldi resisted longer than bigger chains such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

Two of its Herne Bay customers are hoping the machines will take both notes and cards, as they only use cash.

Greg Leppard, 56, said: “I think it’s going with the times and it will free people up to do other things in the shop.

“Like when you're trying to find something and you say ‘excuse me’ and there's no one around.

“I do pay with cash, so I would hope the new machines will take it - but they probably won't.”

Fellow resident Steven Wigington added: “I’d rather it stay how it is.

“I worry about people losing their jobs if there’s more self-service because you see a lot of that.

“If it was to go all card, I would shop somewhere else.”

An Aldi spokesman confirmed the store will be closed from 4pm on September 14 for “refurbishment works”.

They added: “When we reopen on September 21, the store will be in our new layout, which ensures more space for fresh, chilled and food-to-go ranges.

“Following positive feedback we are introducing self-checkouts to further improve customer experience.

“Checkouts manned by our amazing colleagues will still be available for customers who prefer to use these.”

Aldi has been asked about potential redundancies.