Church leader's plea for calm after yet more panic buying in Harborough

A church leader has appealed for calm after a fresh burst of panic buying in Market Harborough.

The Rev Barry Hill made his plea after shoppers on Tuesday stripped entire shelves in Sainsbury’s, Harborough’s biggest superstore.

Barry said people had no need to rush out and stockpile because shopping supply chains are continuing to work fine.

He spoke as fruit and veg, meat, fish, pasta, rice, bread, eggs, honey, medical items, toilet rolls and tissues all sold out at Sainsbury’s.

Barry, Harborough Anglican Team’s team leader, said: ““Hopefully as people see supply chains are working well, this panic buying will stop.

“Whilst it’s understandable that people are frightened, there is enough to go round if we are all sensible.”

Barry also said he’d like to see elderly people given a special “happy hour” in local shops.

“People aged over 70 and maybe with a blue badge should get their own hour – possibly from 8am-9am – to go into stores and shop by themselves,” he said.

“We need to see the most vulnerable members of society given special help in this unprecedented time.”