City centre shops have been selling-out of hand sanitiser amid coronavirus panic.
People in Newcastle have been struggling to buy the product as the number of confirmed cases in the UK continues to rise.
A total of 51 people have now been diagnosed with coronavirus in this country, with a number of patients being treated at the Royal Victoria Infirmary , in Newcastle.
On Tuesday many retailers in the city centre had sold out hand sanitiser products, and staff told customers bottles were snapped-up soon after they hit the shelves.
Shops to have sold-out of the miniature bottles included Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Boots.
One customer, outside Tesco on Clayton Street, said: "I feel like I have tried everywhere to buy hand sanitiser now, but the story is the same everywhere you go.
"Every [sales assistant] I speak to tells me that everyone is asking for the stuff and as soon as they get stock on the shelves it sells out. I think people are just panic-buying to be honest."
Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: "Sales of hand sanitiser have risen as individuals and businesses make sensible precautions to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
"Retailers are also taking necessary steps to meet the rise in demand for certain hygiene products."
The demand has led to some retailers limiting the number of hand sanitisers per customer.
Boots have enforced a limit of two hand sanitisers per customer, helping to maintain a level of stock in some stores.
However, their larger store in Eldon Square had still sold their last bottle on the shelves at around 10.30am, despite shelves being fully stocked when they opened that morning.
A spokeswoman for Boots said: “We have seen an increase in sales of hand sanitisers but we still have stock available in our warehouses for stores and online .
“I can confirm that there is currently a limit of two hand sanitisers per customer to ensure as many people as possible have access to them.”
In response to the spread of Coronavirus, Boots is also offering customers advice on how they can prevent catching the virus.
This involves regular hand washing with soap, and avoiding contact with the eyes, nose and mouth to prevent transmission from surfaces, especially after blowing your nose, sneezing and coughing.
ChronicleLive has contacted Tesco, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.
