Trouble in stores is needless greed

■ Now that the Government has identified all key workers they must not be forced to go shopping only to be greeted by empty shelves. Each and every one of them should receive a food package every week containing the essentials. These parcels should be made up by the supermarkets, who claim they have enough stock to feed everyone, and simply require collection.

For the rest of us, the supermarkets should all close for at least a day to enable them to restock their shelves and, when they re-open, it should be made illegal for anyone to put more than three items of any one product in their trolley.

They must employ more security if necessary to guard against irresponsible and greedy individuals who want to hoard everything for themselves. Oh, and they should impose an immediate price freeze on everything.

John Irving, Leeds

■ I thought this country was called Great Britain. How shocking then to hear of people bulk-buying, fighting for food and begrudging our NHS staff and elderly their special shopping hour. Do they not understand they need the food to keep fit and well to save our lives? Shame on them. I suggest the Government brings in the Army to act as security at all supermarkets to protect the staff and make sure this dedicated shopping hour is respected.

Maureen Sandle Frinton-on-Sea, Essex

Having been to my local supermarkets and finding rows and rows of empty shelves, I can’t help wondering what these people did before the coronavirus?

Didn’t they go shopping on a weekly or monthly basis, buying the things they need just like most of us? If you ran out of anything at anytime then you just took a trip to your local shop.

We’re told there are no shortages of anything, so why do these thoughtless people think they have to go out and buy large amounts of groceries, medicines and toiletries?

We are blessed in this country and this selfish mentality saddens me. Alas, no matter how many times people are told not to stockpile, it seems to be ignored.

G Stoyles, Bradford

■ Now that most shops and supermarkets are limiting purchases to reasonable numbers, is there any way local authorities or even the Government could bring in laws to give the retailers some legal backing? I know this might be closing the stable door after the horse has bolted, but the ministers could force retailers to impose restrictions on bulk-buying straight away in any future emergency. Arthur Wood, Leeds

■ At my local Tesco there is no fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs or bread by 10am. The staff told me police have been called to the main depots to stop people ransacking the trucks. This is a small town so what on earth is it like in the cities? Maresa Kingston

Uckfield, East Sussex

The best idea I have heard to help stop the crazy panic-buying of food is for supermarkets to lock up their trolleys and allow shoppers to use hand baskets only.

Surely, this would limit the amount people could buy and they would only be able to get the basics they actually need?

Allan Norris, Hornchurch, Essex

■ The supermarkets should copy the Scandanavians and sell one item at the normal price but more of the same product at a much higher price. That should stop stockpiling once and for all.

It’s the simplest and most rational step to take.

Alan Gordon, Scottish Borders