VILLAGE shops across Oxfordshire are facing milk and bread shortages as customers panic buy.

With deliveries disrupted and shoppers unable to get to major supermarkets, shopkeepers said people had flocked to their stores to stock up, with milk stocks stripped from the shelves within hours of delivery.

In Minster Lovell, the Crescent Stores Spar ran out of milk and bread on Wednesday. Manager Andrew Barley said: “As soon as the milk came in, it just went.”

Standlake Stores owner Nadeem Ahmed added: “People panic, and as soon as we put the milk out on the shelves, it’s gone within hours.”

Delivery lorries could not get to Uffington Post Office and Stores on Wednesday, leaving the shop without milk. The 150 litres delivered yesterday was sold by lunchtime.

Manager David Holbrow said: “There’s a bit of panic buying, but that’s human nature. People are being pretty sympathetic, and we’re coping.”

Midcounties Co-op has increased supplies to its shops in Oxfordshire and said all deliveries were getting through.

In Little Milton villagers have flooded into the community shop, which opened four months ago. Manager Alison Shelton said: “It’s moments like this that make you realise how important village shops are as a lifeline.”