A nurse says she fled a B&Q store after witnessing numerous customers coughing in a crowded aisle.
The woman visited the store in in Hull on Monday which reopened after being closed during the coronavirus lockdown.
After queuing outside she went in to buy a paintbrush only to witness another customer cough on them, reports Hull Live.
She says there were up to 15 people in one aisle and others were also coughing. She then left without buying anything.
The woman, from Holderness, east Yorkshire, said: “The queue outside was fine and everyone was staying two metres apart.
“They seemed to be letting people into the store in an orderly fashion but once inside it became a free-for-all.
“There were 15 people down one aisle. People were coughing on to products and others were coughing into their hands and then touching items.
“I wanted to buy a paint brush but someone coughed on them so that was that.
“I don’t understand what these people were doing out if they were displaying anything that might be a symptom. It only takes one person to affect a number of others.
“I’m not a germophobe. I’m a nurse and deal with all sorts but it was ridiculous.
“There were no staff policing the aisles and no social distancing inside until you got to the tills.”
B&Q announced last week it was reopening some stores and then revealed more would be opening a few days later.
155 of B&Q's locations are now open, and the chain plans to open the remaining of its stores by early May should it be safe enough to do so.
The woman accepts there were measures in place but does not feel B&Q can effectively enforce them and feels the chain should not have reopened yet.
She said: “There was just no social distancing once inside other than at the tills where there was protection for the staff.
“I just walked out again without buying anything. There was no way I was risking my health any further.
“B&Q had measures in place but no one policing them in the aisles. I just don’t think the store should have reopened yet.
“They should just do click and collect like Wickes. I had a mask and gloves on but I still didn’t feel comfortable.”
But B&Q insists the measures in place are working and customers are well protected.
A B&Q spokesperson said: "Similar to shopping at a supermarket, we’ve introduced social distancing controls at re-opened stores. We’re strictly limiting the number of customers in store at any one time, and in our Hull store, this limit is set at 30 customers.
“We also have two metre floor markers throughout stores to help remind everyone to respect each other’s personal space. In our Hull store, we have set a limit of five customers per aisle to ensure this distance is comfortably met.
“We also have designated multiple marshalls in all stores to remind everyone to stay safe and follow these guidelines.”
The spokesman also insists customers at the Ferry Lane store are adhering to the measures.
He said: “Having spoken to colleagues at B&Q Hull, we are pleased to report that customers are adhering to these measures, helping us to offer a shopping environment that is safe for customers and our colleagues.
"We’re urging all customers to continue to follow the Government’s social distancing guidelines and to shop responsibly only for what is necessary."
