A PHOTO of shoppers has prompted a heated debate on social media.

The picture, appearing to show people queuing up at the checkouts of Sainsbury’s in recent days, was shared to the Spotted Witney Facebook page with the caption: “Great social distancing. Won’t be long before we go into Tier 3.”

Nearly 400 people reacted to the snap, which shows masked shoppers appearing to ignore social distancing rules as they queue with full trollies in the aisles and giant Christmas decorations hanging from the ceiling.

Commenting on the post Loren Morgan said it was ‘total chaos’.

Helen Gamage agreed, saying: “I complained to them this morning they weren’t restricting numbers going in it was horrendous that was at 9am…at the scan check outs the ladies said they had upped the numbers allowed in for Christmas it was horrible shopping today.”

Patricia Grant added: “Exactly, we went in at 7am and it was just the same then. Took us longer trying to avoid people than it did to get our shipping and they were still letting people in.”

But Clare Saunders said the people inside were to blame, saying: “And despite the request by Sainsbury’s for only one adult per household, the other day there were huge family groups everywhere; impossible to get past them while keeping a safe distance.”

Laurie Lovelock said: “It’s busy every time I went in and I didn’t feel comfortable, so I stopped going! There are plenty of independent shops that need your business.”

Andrew Jenkins also added: “And yet you lot would complain if you had to queue in the rain or heaven forbid if they were forced to shut. Guess what people, plenty of other supermarkets to do your shopping at.”

Sainsbury’s was contacted for a comment.