People struggling with costs urged to get help

There were reports of rationing and panic buying in Dundee’s supermarkets yesterday as the Beast from the East continued to wreak havoc.

City residents flocked to shops to stockpile essentials as Britain’s worst storm for years affected vital delivery routes, with milk and bread stocks running low in several stores.

Despite signs in some Tesco and Sainsbury’s stores in the city apologising to customers for empty shelves, Sainsbury’s claimed stocks in the city were under control.

A customer at Broughty Ferry’s Sainsbury’s said the store’s shelves were “bereft” of milk and bread.

However, a spokesperson said: “Supply is good and essentials like bread and milk are still available — we’ve been closely monitoring the weather and adjusting stock levels accordingly.”

A sign in Tesco Express in Broughty Ferry yesterday informed customers of the issues.

It said: “Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have no fresh deliveries today. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.”

Greens of Dundee on Perth Road had to limit customers to a single loaf due to “erratic deliveries”.

Schools remained shut for a second consecutive day and Maggie’s March of the Penguins Ball at the Malmaison hotel last night was cancelled, as was yesterday’s Abertay University Securi-Tay conference.

Almost all trains to and from Dundee were cancelled in the morning, though many services had resumed by the afternoon. Xplore Dundee also managed to run buses as usual.

Home-Start Dundee, a charity offering support for families with young children, urged those struggling with heating costs to get in touch as “it’s very cold and sometimes you have to ask for help”.

The organisation attempted to allay fears among some city residents that they could run out of gas and electric emergency credit on meters, advising those who had run out or were close to running out to call their supplier and ask if they can extend credit until benefits or wages are next paid.

The Met Office’s yellow warning is in place until Monday.