Sainsbury's has resorted to placing security tags on baby formula at branches in Kent.

Stores in Staplehurst and Maidstone are among those putting the measures in place as the cost of living crisis deepens.

Tags which the store says are not new can be seen on Aptamil and Cow and Gate infant and toddler milk.

In March Aptamil's Organic 1 First Infant Milk from Birth 800g rose from £12 to £13.50 while its advanced formula of the same weight cost £16 when we visited Maidstone's Romney Place store this week.

Suppliers have blamed the rising costs of production, transportation and storage for price increases.

Baby formula, has suffered shortages in the UK and the US in the past two years, with America significantly affected.

Sainsbury's shopper Sarah Farmer, a full-time mum-of-one, said parents were feeling the pinch due to the rising cost of products.

She said: "I used to pay around £10 for baby formula.

"People are struggling as it is so what do they expect people to do now that everything is going up?"

The 34-year-old added: "I've just gone into the store and spent £70 but I will have to come back in a few days time and top up more bits.

"Everything's sky-rocketed, a weekly shop that used to cost me £40 now cost me £70.

"So more people will start to do silly things, the crime rate will go up. Theft and all the rest of it."

Full-time mum-of-two, Kirsty Bailey, said: "It is a bit frustrating because you have to ask staff to take the tags off, and if no ones there available then you're delayed waiting around.

The 32-year-old: "It's normally £12.50 but if it's on offer it might be a pound cheaper."

Radio frequency identification tags operate through a transmitter that sounds out an alert when an item is removed from a shop.

Tags are normally used to prevent thefts of luxury items such as perfume or alcohol and are usually removed by staff at the checkout till.

Amanda Sidwell is the founder of charity Make a Difference Maidstone, which operates a foodbank in the town, appealed for parents in desperate situations to get in touch with organisations like hers.

The 60-year-old said: "If anyone is in genuine need they shouldn't steal, there's about four food banks in Maidstone.

"Also there's another amazing charity named the Princess Project which helps underprivileged families and single mums.

"When we get any nappies or baby food we pass it on to them."

A Sainsbury's spokesman said the decision on whether to security tag products differed from store to store.