Tesco has been slammed after putting clothing on a half price sale in stores despite lockdown rules banning non-essential shopping.
The supermarket has rolled out adverts for the 50 per cent slash on F&F clothing, footwear, nightwear and lingerie from Wednesday until May 19.
But furious customers have branded the retailer “irresponsible” and “reckless”, claiming the promotion could prompt people to flock to stores for non-vital items.
James Donavan, who said his mother is putting herself at risk working at Tesco during the pandemic, asked the store’s official account on Twitter: “Is now the time to be driving footfall?”
Another raged: “Aren't we in the middle of a global pandemic? On lockdown? And told by our government only to go out for essential shopping? How reckless can a company be?”
One shopper added: "Is this true? If so how irresponsible, encouraging people to go out during lockdown, and you don’t sell online.”
The Government’s lockdown rules only allow outings for shopping, medical or job essentials or exercise once a day, and says trips should be “as infrequent as possible”.
Tesco responded on Twitter, saying: “There will be two metre stickers on the floor and ample signage to remind customers of the social distancing measures and stores will limit the number of customers accessing the F&F department, should it be necessary.”
A spokesperson added: “Regardless of any sale in store we will still be adhering to Government guidelines which are in place in stores at the moment.”
It comes after pictures of long queues outside some of the 155 reopened B&Q stores prompted anger at the lack of social distancing, with some branding it "absolute carnage".
The UK became the worst-hit nation in Europe on Tuesday as the death toll passed 32,000.
