Major supermarkets to ration basic goods after Coronavirus panic buying

Tesco has already started rationing, with shoppers only allowed to buy five of each of the rationed goods either in store or online, including antibacterial gels, wipes and sprays, dry pasta, UHT milk and various tinned vegetables.

Panic buying has been happening despite the government's chief scientific adviser stating there is "absolutely no reason" for the British public to panic buy food or other supplies.

Amazon has banned over 1 million products claiming to cure coronavirusIn response to customers unable to buy toilet roll at their Tesco branches, the supermarket tweeted: "We know there's demand for certain products at the moment and we're working really hard to maintain availability of those to help customers.

"We have taken a common-sense approach to make sure everyone can access essentials and have introduced a maximum purchase limit (5 per customer) on a few items. Products include: anti-bac gel, wipes, sprays, bleach, dried pasta, UHT milk, tinned veg, kids medications & water.

"Any other items outside the restriction will be monitored through the store manager's discretion to ensure fairness to all customers."

Coronavirus fears spark panic buying as people stockpile hand sanitiser and toilet rollWaitrose has also implemented a temporary cap on various items on it's website, including anti-bacterial soaps and wipes.

ASDA is restricting certain types of hand sanitiser to two bottles per person, although this is the supermarket's only rationing measure in place.

Boots chemist is also limiting sales of hand sanitiser to two per person.

However, Sainsbury's said it was not rationing any products in-store or online yet.