Supermarkets across the country began ramping up their efforts to halt panic-buying in the worsening Covid-19 outbreak.

Tesco became the latest retailer to introduce special one-hour slots for the elderly and vulnerable on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9am and 10am, starting yesterday.

But the efforts appear not to have been a complete success.

Abingdon resident Maureen Buckingham, who visited to the Marsham Road branch for 9am, described the experience as ‘awful’, however.

The 77-year-old was met by hoards of customers of all ages armed with large trollies who she said were stockpiling products.

She said: “I expected somebody on the doors to be letting people in, but it looked like a normal day.

“I am so cross. It was so busy that when I went in the shelves they were already empty, so I could not buy any food.”

ALSO READ: HUNDREDS of shoppers queue outside supermarkets before sunrise

Ms Buckingham said she was told by one of the staff members that they could not ‘physically stop shoppers rushing in’.

However, a spokesman for the retailer explained that it is relying on customers to give priority to elderly and vulnerable shoppers during the slots advertised.

He added: “The priority shopping hours for elderly and vulnerable are one of the ways we are trying to help these customers get access to the products they need.

“We had our first hour this morning and, while overall, the feedback has been positive, we know some stores were still very busy during this time, as they have been since we opened at 6am.