Coronavirus: Aldi restricting shoppers to four items of every product amid stockpiling

Aldi shoppers will only be allowed to purchase four units on all products in it stores following coronavirus-induced panic buying.

The budget supermarket chain announced the tougher measures today on its Twitter account after stores across the country have been left with empty shelves.

Toilet roll, pasta, hand wash, sanitiser gels and pain killers have all been stockpiled by some customers as people try and battle against coronavirus, reports HullLive .

This has left vulnerable people unable to buy what they need during their weekly shop with many calling on shops to take tougher measures to avoid people stockpiling.

Aldi said it will be limiting customer purchases to four units on all products to ensure all customers have the opportunity to purchase them.

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Chaos as people queue to get into Aldi (ashleyfryer/Twitter)

Many other supermarkets have placed limits on certain items which are in high demand - but it is believed Aldi is the first supermarket to place the restrictions an all products.

It tweeted: "All our stores remain open and continue to serve our valued customers.

"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 at this time."

Its tweet has received thousands of likes and the approval of users across the country.

Carol Allsopp replied: "Well done other supermarket's take notice."

Eunice Somers said: "Thank you Aldi. This well stop those trying to profit from buying everything in sight."

Shopper seen rushing to get toilet rolls as new ones are put on sale in a London Morrisons store (Shutterstock)

But Laura Driffill said: "Four still too many. Two or three maximum. People shouldn't need 36 loo rolls, even if they do have to self-isolate for 14 days."

As of Saturday afternoon, 21 people in the UK have died from the virus so far, with 1,140 people testing positive.

Government authorities have given advice on how to prevent the spread as airlines cancel flights across the world.