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Shocking pic of paramedic staring at empty Sainsbury’s shelves after coronavirus panic-buying

A PARAMEDIC out saving lives all day was pictured amongst empty shelves  — after supermarkets were ransacked as soon as they opened yesterday.

Stores have asked police to help stop shoppers “acting like savages”.

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 This picture has been circulating online of a paramedic looking at empty shelves - it is not known exactly where or when it was taken
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This picture has been circulating online of a paramedic looking at empty shelves - it is not known exactly where or when it was takenCredit: Facebook
 A huge queue snakes its way to the doors of Costco in Watford
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A huge queue snakes its way to the doors of Costco in WatfordCredit: Reuters

Hordes of selfish Brits gatecrashed so-called “grey hours” set aside for the old, vulnerable and emergency workers.

PM Boris Johnson appealed for the panic buying to stop. He said “There is no reason for shops to be empty. Everybody understands why people are buying stuff, but please be reasonable. Be considerate and thoughtful of others as you do it.”

Ministers temporarily tore up competition laws so supermarkets can work together to keep their shelves stocked.

They could share stock, staff and delivery vans and work together to decide to shut certain stores and pool resources.

Restrictions on the number of hours delivery drivers can work have been suspended. And the 5p charge on plastic bags has been waived for online shopping to speed up deliveries.

Sue Johnson, 80, said she was pushed out of the way at 7am by burly men at Sainsbury’s in Sydenham, South London.

WHAT SHOPPERS NEED TO KNOW

Firstly, don't panic. Take a look around your kitchen and fridge and work out if you have enough food to last you for a two-week isolation period.

Make a list of meals you could cook or have and then work out what you would need to buy.

If the UK does enter a lockdown situation then supermarkets and pharmacies will remain open.

You will still be able to visit them - unless you're self isolating.

Remember, family and friends will be able to bring you supplies should you not be able to leave the house.

We've created a guide on how to stockpile for a two-week isolation.

Idiots were seen stealing pasta from foodbanks. Elsewhere police were called to fights over loo roll, pasta and handwash.

Store bosses and police are discussing having cops at stores at key times - from opening to 9am and  4.30pm to 7pm.

One boss said: “Ideally we want them there as a deterrent — and hope that will send the message to crazy selfish shoppers.”

Spending on the top 12 stockpiling items — from pasta to handwash — ­doubled to £124million in the week ending March 7, up from £66million a year before, said analysts Nielsen Scantrack.

Loo rolls saw an 88 per cent rise — from £20million to £37.6million.

Retired cleaner Sue said after the Sainsbury’s stampede: “Younger people had taken most of the trolleys. They just rushed in when the doors opened.

“Security were powerless and us older folk were really intimidated. We were pushed and shoved and could barely move. The loo roll section was stripped empty.

“All these young folk were going way over the limits on toilet paper and pasta.

“Not only were they denying the elders a right to get food they need, but they were putting us at increased health risk. It was incredibly selfish.”

Six thugs smashed the front of a Sainsbury’s in Elephant and Castle, South London, on Wednesday night after running out with stolen spirits. Four men were arrested.

Just over a mile away at Asda on Old Kent Road,  an off-duty cop stopped two women fighting yesterday.

In nearby Catford,  William Tutt, 64, saw cops called to  a fight in a Savers because shoppers wanted more than one pack of loo roll.

Co-op is creating 5,000  jobs to get food on the shelves. Tesco followed Sainsbury’s and Asda in shutting cafes to free-up staff for stacking and tills. Waitrose is also limiting all products to three each.

M&S will reserve the first hour of opening for old folk tomorrow, then every Monday and Thursday. And it will do the same for NHS and emergency workers every Tuesday and Friday.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “We’ve listened to the powerful arguments of our leading supermarkets and will do whatever it takes to help them feed the nation.”

 Hundreds queue at Costco in Lakeside shopping centre
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Hundreds queue at Costco in Lakeside shopping centreCredit: Rex Features
Mum breaks down in tears as she slams coronavirus stockpilers for buying all the nappies in her area