SUPERMARKET giants are making a monkey out of traditional grocers by slashing the price of bananas.

A price war has meant the cost of the nation's favourite fruit has gone round the bend.

And while prices of 28p per pound, or 65p a kilo, at Asda are good news for the shopper, high street grocers are fuming.

The battle to sell the cheapest banana has seen Asda slash 12 per cent off the price putting them at around 5p each.

But Barry Gilbert, who has run his grocer's store in Swindon's Groundwell Road for 18 years, says it is unfair competition.

"I buy bananas from Bristol market at 45p per pound, and sell them for 49p, so I only make 4p," said the 60-year-old grandfather.

"Supermarkets buy them direct and can also afford to sell them at a loss.

"It's totally unfair and is what is driving traditional shops like mine out of business.

"If these kinds of trends continue there won't be any shops like mine left."

The price is continually fluctuating, and will certainly fall in the summer.

"I can pick them up for 19p a pound in the summer, when I get my favourite bananas," said Barry.

"I like them ripe and brown and sweet.

"I've been here for so long I have my own regular customers who like the individual service I offer.

"I carry on because I know the price will get better."

Sales of bananas are booming, partly due to their health benefits.

A rich source of potassium, bananas are also crammed full of natural carbohydrates and fibre.

We Brits munch our way through an average of 10kg every year, and spend a total of £750-million annually on the fruit.

British shoppers prefer medium-sized, curved bananas but Europeans like larger, straighter ones.

Bananas are also helping to tackle Third World poverty.

Farmers who produce fruit through the Windward Islands scheme receive a fair price for their goods.

Tamash Lal