Iceland stores up and down the country are changing their opening hours for elderly shoppers amid the coronavirus outbreak - including here in Edinburgh.
Supermarkets have pleaded with customers to stop stockpiling due to the pandemic and have been forced to ration a number items but this hasn't stopped panic-buyers queuing outside stores before they open.
Iceland is now encouraging store managers nationwide to dedicate the first two hours of a store opening on Wednesday morning to pensioners and vulnerable people in the community.
A staff member at Iceland in Wester Hailes shared on social media that they were one of the stores taking part.
She said: "My work Iceland Wester Hailes [sic]! Iceland will be changing opening hours to 10.00am-6.00pm for the current period - we will also not open until 11.00am on Wednesday to allow OAPs and people at risk to shop in comfort prior to store opening."
In a statement Iceland said: "The impact of Covid-19 continues to disrupt routines for many people and businesses, and there is widespread concern about access to food, especially for vulnerable people and the eldery.
"With many of our Iceland stores located at the heart of communities across the UK, we are encouraging our store managers to dedicate first two hours of opening on Wednesday morning to the elderly (those of pension age) and vulnerable people in their community, such as those with disabilities.
"We are giving them the flexibility to offer this wherever possible, and arrangements will be publicised in the stores that decide to take this action.
"We comment the action taken by our colleagues in the West Belfast store who have already dedicated an hour of early morning opening for the elderly. We are focused on being able to feed the nation nd to support those most in need."
The Scottish Government announced yesterday that there had been one new confirmed case of coronavirus in the Lothians since Sunday, up from 28, with 171 throughout Scotland.
Edinburgh Live will be bringing you all the latest updates concerning the virus in Edinburgh and the Lothians on our live blog.
