THE Co-op is trialling till-less technology.

Selected branches across West Sussex will test a new approach to customers paying in stores, as the number of people using cash continues to fall.

The retailer is to bring its “pay-in-aisle” technology to shops in Ham Road, Shoreham; Southwick Square, Southwick; and Southwater.

From next month, shoppers will be able to use an app on their phones to buy items.

Mark Pettigrew, Director of Retail Support at Co-op Food, said: “Technology is bringing unprecedented levels of change to retailing, with speed and ease being key for time-pressed consumers.

“We know that people adopt technology at different speeds, and while cash is here to stay it is clear that it is increasingly playing a lesser role in society.”

The Co-op first unveiled the in-store technology in early 2018, and expects it to compliment existing payment methods such as cashiers and self-scan tills.

The app enables customers to scan products on their phone as they walk around with the cost of the shop automatically deducted from their Apple or Google Pay account.

Mr Pettigrew said that the app gives customers extra choice and would be beneficial during peak shopping times.

“Whether they’ve got a train to catch or a school run to make, people lead busy lives and shoppers value their time.

“This technology could give our stores increased opportunity to replenish stock and increase product availability so we are at our best even at our busiest times, and enables customers to complete their shopping quickly and get on with the rest of their day and what matters most to them.”

While cash remains common-place in convenience stores, Co-op has seen a 10 per cent decline in the popularity of notes and coins during the last two years.

The use of contactless cards and other non-cash payment methods now accounts for more than one in two transactions in stores.