CHAOS IN THE AISLES AS SHOPPERS STOCK UP
SUPERMARKET staff and shoppers have described chaotic scenes at food stores around Wales over the weekend. One worker said they had heard of people offering money for trolleys as many did their last-minute grocery shopping.
On Friday, there were long queues on the roads near major supermarkets and it was another busy day yesterday as shoppers picked up essentials for the holiday feast.
Eager shoppers got up at the crack of dawn yesterday morning to go shopping at Asda in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf.
People were spotted queuing with trolleys outside the store at 6am, waiting for the shop to open.
Jonny Evans took a photograph and shared it on social media, calling the scene “absolutely mental” and joked “guess they all had the same idea”.
A staff member at Tesco in Spytty Road, Newport, spoke of busy scenes on Friday.
They said: “People were turning up to the store at 5am to get their shopping done, it was pretty busy. It got to around 8am and the self scan guns were empty, customers were complaining as they wanted to use them.
“Then around 10am, customers were following other customers to their cars as there were no trolleys left. They were queuing by the entrance begging others to give them their trolleys.
“A woman I was serving on the checkouts was telling me how a man had promised to give her his trolley.
“Then another man came over and said to the man with the trolley, ‘I will literally give you a fiver for the trolley.’ People were that desperate they were offering others money.
“One customer also told me that he had an argument with another customer as they both wanted the same trolley.
“Queues were filling up the aisles as customers were waiting to pay for their shopping.”
The employee added: “I really feel that this weekend is going to be worse than ever after seeing what it was like today. Even getting out of the car park was a struggle as it was absolutely packed.”
Christine Sweener, a checkout operator at Tesco in Tidal Reach, Pontarddulais, Swansea, said: “I heard of shoppers fighting for the last of the trolleys available at another store.
“I usually start work at 10am on a Friday, but had been asked to start an hour earlier today and was shocked to see the number in the store as I arrived.
“I wish all our regular Tesco, Bont shoppers a merry Christmas, but ask shoppers don’t take their frustration out on store staff, when they’re unable to buy something they wanted to, at this late date, as it’s sold out now.
“It’s unfortunately a gamble you have to be prepared to accept, when you leave a thing until late, often in hope of getting last-minute offers.”
In Cardiff city centre yesterday, there were lots of people out picking up last-minute gifts.
Earlier on, there were no queues to get in car parks and there was plenty of space in the streets but the roads started to get more congested in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Met Office has said Christmas Day could reach record temperatures, with only the Scottish mountains likely to see snow.
The forecaster said tomorrow will be damp and windy but especially mild, with highs of 13°C or 14°C.
The hottest Christmas Day on record was 15.6°C in 1920, so there is a “small chance” of it being a record, the Met Office added.
Meteorologist Liam Eslick said: “It’s looking like a damp picture across the UK, heavy rain possibly in Wales, past Christmas lunch there could be some breaks if people are looking to go out and about.
“Boxing Day is probably going to be the best day if people are looking to go for a walk.”
A yellow warning for rain is in force covering much of Wales, with forecasters warning that flooding and travel disruption is possible, and will last until 6pm today.
Between 20mm to 40mm of rain is expected widely and 60mm to 80mm on higher ground.