Shoppers are snapping up hand sanitiser leaving shelves empty at Boots and Superdrug.
Fears over coronavirus are likely to be behind the surge in sales, as Brits follow the advice of the NHS to keep hands clean by using hand sanitiser when soap and water are not available.
Boots' online store shows that most brands of hand sanitiser are out of stock.
As well as standard hand sanitiser, such as Dettol's 'On the Go', Boot's online shop indicates that flavoured varieties of the bacteria-busting gel, even a 'bubblegum' scented version , are also unavailable to buy.
ChronicleLive visited two branches of Boots in Newcastle city centre on Thursday to find stocks were very low, with empty shelves at one Boots branch and limited amounts at another.
ChronicleLive has contacted Boots to ask when customers can expect hand sanitiser to be re-stocked.
In response to Mirror Online's query about stock levels, Boots said: "The best way to help prevent catching a virus is by making sure that you regularly wash your hands with soap, and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent transmission from surfaces, especially after blowing your nose, sneezing and coughing.
"Antiviral hand foams and gel can also be useful when you are out and about."
Boot's rival Superdrug's online shop also indicates the retailer is running out of hand sanitiser, with many brands sold out . Its Northumberland Street branch only had a few bottles on its shelf on Thursday.
Superdrug has declined to comment about its stock levels or when more will be ordered in.
