Shoppers still lining up to clear shelves despite government advice on stockpiling

As well as supermarkets, shoppers in Martlesham Health made long queues to pick up their produce at the fruit and veg market Picture: CHARLOTTE BOND (Image: Charlotte Bond)

For the last week, shoppers have gone against Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s call for calm in food shops and lines of trolleys outside supermarkets in the early hours have become a common sight.

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In our video you can see some shoppers disregarding social distancing advice, standing much closer than two metres from each other.

These scenes were recorded the day after the PM announced all pubs, club, cafes and other leisure businesses should close as soon as possible.

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Despite regular assurances that there is no food shortage in the UK and restrictions on the number of items people can buy, shelves are being cleared by members of the public filling their cupboards.

The behaviour has resulted in many supermarkets going further and dedicating time to older, vulnerable customers and emergency workers in the mornings in an attempt to make sure they get what they need.

READ MORE: All the new supermarket shopping times in one place

Mr Johnson said he would be speaking to supermarket bosses about efforts to keep supplies flowing and how to overcome the panic buying that is gripping the UK.

Shelves have been stripped of essential items, such as toilet rolls, hand sanitiser, paracetamol, meat, fruit and vegetables as shoppers ignore pleas not to stockpile.