Coronavirus in Leeds: Iceland introduces dedicated shopping hours for elderly amid stock-piling panic

Branches are being encouraged to dedicate the first two hours of opening on a Wednesday to those who are most in need, as fears intensify over the spread of coronavirus.

Scores of shoppers in Leeds have been panic-buying essentials, including toilet paper, and queues have reached the length of the aisle in some supermarkets.

There are fears the elderly and most vulnerable will not have the essentials they need as shelves empty.

Iceland shops in Hunslet, Beeston and Cross Gates have already confirmed the new dedicated opening hours, with stores open only to over-60s from 9am until 11am on Wednesdays.

The three stores have also cut general opening hours to help them replenish stock, opening from 10am until 6pm until further notice.

Individual store managers are responsible for introducing the measures and new opening times will be confirmed by each store across Leeds.

A spokeswoman for Iceland said: “The impact of Covid-19 continues to disrupt routines for many people and businesses, and there is widespread concern about access to food, especially for vulnerable people and the elderly.

"With many of our Iceland stores located at the heart of communities across the UK, we are encouraging our store managers to dedicate the first two hours of opening on Wednesday morning to the elderly (those of state pension age) and vulnerable people in their community, such as those with disabilities.

"We are giving them the flexibility to offer this wherever possible, and arrangements will be publicised in the stores that decide to take this action.

"We commend the action taken by our colleagues in the West Belfast store who have already dedicated an hour of early morning opening for the elderly. We are focused on being able to feed the nation and to support the most in need.”