This was the scene outside a Whitley Bay supermarket with half an hour to go before it opened on Saturday morning.
The Government has ramped up its coronavirus advice urging Brits to only go leave their homes when necessary and avoid mixing in large groups, with pubs, restaurants and cafes ordered to close by the Prime Minister, as well as schools.
The escalating response to the coronavirus pandemic led to shoppers arriving early to supermarkets on Saturday so they could stock up on supplies.
ChroniceLive's photographer captured the scene outside Sainsbury's in Newsteads Drive, Whitley Bay. Customers were lined up outside the supermarket, trolleys in hand, at 7.30am on Saturday. Our photographer estimated that around 200-250 shoppers were outside Sainsbury's shortly before it opened at 8am.
The images show shoppers keeping a reasonable distance from each other as they formed an orderly queue, with the public advised to avoid close contact as the coronavirus pandemic takes a grip on Britain.
From Monday, Sainsbury's will introduce dedicated shoppings hours for the vulnerable - as well as NHS staff - three days a week.
Health and care staff will be able to shop at Sainsbury's between 8am and 9am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, alongside elderly and vulnerable shoppers. Tesco and Asda have already reserved hours for vulnerable shoppers.
Supermarkets and shops which sell food are allowed to remain open as normal to the public at present. Businesses and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have urged people not to panic buy.
Here are supermarkets' opening hours and stockpiling rules.
