Aldi shoppers will be limited to buying just four of any one item as the German retailer experiences 'unprecedented demand' amid coronavirus fears.
Bristol has already seen panic buying break out at a number of stores this week, including the Lidl in Brislington, with one woman comparing the scenes there to a 'zombie film'.
In the face of such overwhelming demand, Aldi have taken measures to ensure there's enough food items, toilet paper and other essentials to go round.
Get updates about the latest coronavirus news for Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos with our Coronavirus In And Around Bristol Facebook group here.
In a statement on Twitter, the retailer said stores will remain open but customers will now be limited to purchasing 'four units' of any one product.
"All our stores remain open and continue to serve our valued customers," the statement reads.
"We have good product availability and our incredible colleagues are working tirelessly to restock and replenish shelves as quickly as they can.
"As we have seen an unprecedented demand across our range, we will be limiting customer purchases to four units on all products to ensure all of our customers have an opportunity to purchase them.
"We thank you all for your patience during this time."
In other coronavirus news, the number of people in the UK who have died from coronavirus has doubled overnight while Jet2 has announced it has cancelled all flights to Spain .
You can keep up to date with all the latest coronavirus news - both locally and nationally - in our live blog here .
What are the symptoms of coronavirus?
Symptoms include fever and cough that can progress to severe pneumonia. This can cause shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
The virus causes more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.
How can I prevent it?
In most cases, Covid-19 is mild but everyone should carry on with good washing of hands and related personal hygiene measures, which include:
- Giving your hands a good wash with soap and water is the most effective action you can take (but hand gels can be a good substitute).
- Maintaining personal hygiene when coughing or sneezing is also important – use a tissue rather your hands and then throw it away.
- It is good general practice to use cleaning wipes to give your keyboard, desk, phone etc. the once over on a regular basis.
If someone is feeling unwell and has the symptoms set out on the public health website they should not go to their doctors or a hospital. They should ring 111 to get further advice.
