Shelves at a Tesco store were stripped bare just two hours after opening.
The supermarket in Ely, Cambridgeshire, closed overnight for the shelves to be re-stocked and there were huge queues outside the doors when it opened at 6am on Wednesday.
Just two hours later, the supermarket had already run out of many essential household goods, including toilet roll, disinfectant and washing capsules.
It was also running low on dried foods such as pasta, long life milk and cat and dog food.
One Tesco worker, who did not want to be named, said: “The rush was just like Christmas.
"There were queues outside the door and the shelves were emptied within minutes.”
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Meanwhile, supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has agreed to set aside the first hour in every store for elderly and vulnerable customers from Thursday.
In a letter sent out to its customers last night it said: “I hope that you can respect this decision and will work with us as we try our best to help those that need it the most.
“If you or an elderly family member, friend or neighbour would like to shop during this hour, please check online for your local supermarket opening hours.”
From Monday (March 23) the supermarket is also offering its online customers who are over 70 or have a disability priority access to online delivery slots.
It is also encouraging customers who are able, to use its “click and collect” service.
It added: “For any online customer who can travel to our stores, from Monday 23rd March, we will operate an expanded 'click and collect' service.
“We are significantly increasing the number of collection sites across the country over the coming days in preparation for this.
"Customers can place their order online as usual and pick it up from a collection point in the store car park. We believe this will also work for people who are self-isolating.
It added: “As we work to feed the nation, we are also focusing all of our efforts on getting as much food and other essential items from our suppliers, into our warehouses and onto shelves as we possibly can. We still have enough food for everyone - if we all just buy what we need for us and our families.”
