Major Burnley supermarket announces rationing measures as shoppers ignore call to stop panic buying amid coronavirus crisis

Rows and rows of empty shelves as shoppers stripped them bare of many items including toilet rolls, pasta, rice, eggs, bread and tinned food.

Many parents also reported on social media they could not find nappies, powdered baby milk, wipes and other items essential for their children as so many people were swamping stores panic buying.

Some even reported scenes of customers fighting in the aisles as the shelves emptied as quickly as staff were filling them.

Iceland Frozen Foods opened its store at a designated time for elderly and vulnerable shoppers to get what they needed and Tesco Extra in Burnley's Centenary Way changed its closing time, shutting the store at 10pm last night instead of remaining open for 24 hours, to allow staff to replenish shelves.

But by the time it re-opened again at 6am today shoppers were flooding the store.

Two hours ago Asda Burnley announced that from today rationing measures would be in place.

Asda stated that customers will only be able to buy up to three of any product across all food items, toiletries and cleaning products.

The statement said: "Like most retailers, we have seen a heightened demand for products both in stores and online.

"We have plenty of products to go around, but we have a responsibility to do the right thing for our communities to help our customers look after their loved ones in a time of need."