But others are sticking to their regular favourites as stores compete more than ever for their custom.

Jean and Howard Taylor, from Burniston, have ditched the bigger supermarkets to shop at Aldi.

Mrs Taylor said: "We used to shop at the bigger supermarkets but we are coming into town now for better prices. We shop at Aldi and at the Market, and would highly recommend them both. They are much cheaper, and the quality of food at the market is superb."

Another shopper who has switched to low-price, few frills Aldi is Andy Smith who travels from Filey to shop at the store. He said: "My wife and I have shopped at Aldi for years and years. We find it excellent, and nothing can beat it on value. We rarely shop anywhere else, and as we live in Filey we travel to either Scarborough or Bridlington."

Gordon Watson lives in Scarbor-ough and usually shops at Tesco but says he finds little difference between the stores. "All the supermarkets are the same really with the offers. There should be more competition between them though. People with lower incomes are struggling to cope and the supermarkets should be lowering their prices even more to help."
Owner of the Gordon Hotel, in Ryndleside, Laurence Watson, said: "I buy stock for the hotel from Tesco simply because I know where everything is and I can get round quickly. The price cuts are helping, but they are very much needed. Everyone is being affected by the rising cost of living, especially shopping which has gone up by almost 70p per item in some cases."

The Evening News carried out an undercover price test to determine who is currently winning the price wars in Scarborough. Five of the town's leading supermarkets went head to head as we compared 15 mid-range, own branded items.

Aldi was by far the cheapest with the items totalling £18.49, beating second place Tesco by £3.21. The low-cost supermarket was cheaper than the other four stores on all but three items, proving to be significantly cheaper for fresh fruit and veg.

Scarborough-based Proudfoot was identified as being the most expensive with the 15 items coming in at £23.35. Only five items on the list were cheaper at Proudfoot than at Sainsbury's, Tesco or Morrisons.

Only £1 separated Tesco and Morrisons, with Sainsbury's falling roughly halfway between the two.