SELF-SCANNING till systems have won the Oxford, Swindon and Gloucester Co-op national recognition.

The Co-op society scooped two prestigious food retail awards at the annual Deloitte & Touche European Retail Solutions Awards.

Self-scanning, developed by Optimal Robotics, is a speedy, self-operating system, enabling shoppers to scan, bag and pay for their own basket shopping. The service is available at the Co-op store in Highworth, which opened in April.

The system prompted the Co-op to bag the Electronic Point of Sale Initiative of the Year and European Retail Solution of the Year.

Chief executive Bob Burlton said: "Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op continues to be a successful and expanding co-operative business.

"We are absolutely delighted to be the overall winner in not one, but two categories.

"In both cases we beat off both national and European names."

Optimal Robotics was delighted to work with the Co-op, which has 15 stores in Swindon and the surrounding area, on the project.

The firm's managing director Paul Rosen said: "It has been a fantastic experience working with OS&G Co-op to deliver a solution that is proving to be so successful in their stores."