TENS of thousands of anxious shoppers descended on supermarkets across the UK early today amid fears of an imminent coronavirus lockdown. Huge queues developed outside larger stores just hours after Boris Johnson ordered the closure of pubs and restaurants in an unprecedented move to reduce the impact of the health crisis.

Please treat our colleagues and other customers with kindness and respect

Mike Coupe

A major Tesco supermarket near Greenford, west London, saw queues start to build before 6am as shoppers ignored pleas not to stockpile.

Hundreds of shoppers were also spotted queuing around the car park at Tesco in New Malden, south-west London as panic buying shows no sign of slowing.

And in another Tesco Extra in Hampton, Peterborough, shelves had already been stripped bare 6am this morning.

Similar scenes played out across country as as shoppers scrambled to stock up on essentials such as toilet rolls, hand sanitiser, paracetamol, meat, fruit and vegetables.

It comes after Tesco announced a three-per-person limit on all items as part of latest efforts to curb panic-buying.

The restrictions were imposed on Thursday but at this stage has done little to cope with the high demand.

Many shoppers visiting supermarkets in the afternoon or evening have been greeted with empty shelves.

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Items such as frozen vegetables, crisps, squash, fresh milk, pasta and rice are also proving hard to get hold of, as are most tinned foods.

Boris Johnson will be speaking to supermarket bosses today about efforts to keep supplies flowing during the coronavirus pandemic.

It is understood Mr Johnson will be speaking to the leading supermarket chains to see what the Government can do to ensure the shelves remain stocked and the supply chains can cope with the demand.

The Road Haulage Association has also welcomed an announcement by the Department of Transport to relax the working hours for drivers for a month from March 23 until April 21.

Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Sainbsury’s have announced a golden shopping hour for NHS and social care workers, so they can join older and vulnerable shoppers in having less competition for restocked shelves.

It comes after critical care nurse Dawn Bilbrough, from York, made a heartfelt plea for shoppers to stop stockpiling, in a video which circulated on social media.

In the video, she is seen crying after visiting a supermarket following a 48-hour hospital shift to find there were no fruit or vegetables.

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Sainsbury’s said from next week health and social care staff will be able to shop between 8am and 9am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, alongside elderly and vulnerable shoppers.

It is also consolidating its opening hours in its main stores from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday, in order to be able focus on restocking shelves.

Sunday opening, Sainsbury’s Local and petrol station opening times will stay the same.

Chief executive Mike Coupe urged customers to take simple measures to reduce risk by standing one metre away from each other and consider paying with card instead of cash.

He said: “Please also treat our colleagues and other customers with kindness and respect.

“These are unprecedented circumstances and our colleagues are being asked to come to work every day while so many others are being asked to stay at home.

“We all need them to keep coming to work to feed the nation – a small thank you goes a really long way.”

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