ELDERLY and vulnerable shoppers flocked to a Christchurch supermarket early yesterday morning to take advantage of its special shopping hour.

But not all those who turned up were sure what to buy.

Sainsbury's set aside an hour between 7am and 8am to allow those most severely restricted by the coronavirus to buy vital supplies first.

By 6.30am the car park was filling up and huge queues had formed on the roads around the Lyndhurst Road store.

Managers greeted customers at the door and allowed them in early to browse before making their purchases from 7am.

The supermarket chain took the decision to open early for the elderly and vulnerable as panic buying led to the shelves being stripped of supplies across the country.

Despite warnings that bulk-buying is unnecessary, shoppers continued to pile their trolleys high with anything they could get their hands on.

Supplies of items such as toilet roll, baked beans, pasta and cleaning products have been running particularly low.

The mood at Sainsbury's was fairly upbeat with visitors enjoying their early morning shop.

John Hanley, 78, said: "I know it's stupid really but it's making me a bit nervous when I see all the panic buying on the TV.

"I'm going to buy everything I can because we don't know how long it's going to go on for."

Mary Parker, 81, added: "I don't really know why I'm here to be honest - I am just joining in with everyone else I suppose. I'm going to buy some soup but I've already got some at home."

Sarah Alexander, 28, from Bournemouth, was waiting outside the store for her nan.

She said: "The staff keep looking at me and I feel like I'm going to get told off. I just want to help my nan and make sure she gets everything she needs because otherwise she's only going to worry."

Sainsbury's has announced that those in vulnerable groups will have priority access to grocery delivery slots from Monday and that it is closing its cafes, meat, fish and pizza counters to ensure more essential products can be stocked.