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Chronicle Live
National
Ian Johnson

Toilet paper being sold for £1,000 on Facebook as people try to cash in on coronavirus

People are selling toilet roll on Facebook for £1,000 in a bid to cash in on the coronavirus.

Toilet paper was stripped from supermarket shelves after Covid-19 panic gripped the UK.

Now, several rolls have ended up on Facebook Marketplace - with sellers asking buyers to spend more than a penny.

One person is charging £1,000 for a single Asda own brand roll, with their tongue-in-cheek advert stating: "Priced low as been dropped in loo and toilet duck damage."

Someone else is selling a roll for £50, claiming it is "extremely rare thanks to the coronavirus".

Health expert issues stern advice to anyone stockpiling

"No offers," states the advert. "It is a case of supply and demand."

The crafty tactic follows reports that anti-bacterial hand gel is being sold online with a 5,000% mark-up.

Some 49p bottles of hand soap were listed on eBay for £24.99.

However, several supermarkets have capped the sale of both items to try to stop panic buying.

Pictures of empty shelves have gone viral on social media after shoppers - fearing the prospect of self-isolation - stocked up.

However, Sir Patrick Vance, the Government's top science advisor, said there is "absolutely no reason" to panic buy.

And Prime Minister Boris Johnson added: “We’ve had no advice from the scientific advisers or medical officers that there’s any need for people to buy stuff in.

"It is very important that everybody should behave responsibly and think about others."

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