SUPERMARKETS across the county have introduced tighter restrictions amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis and are limiting the number of people in their stores at any one time.

Currently, item limit restrictions and priority hours are in place across all major supermarkets but now shoppers might end up having to queue outside at peak times, on some occasions for up to an hour.

Customers are also asked to pay contactless or by card where possible.

Tesco, Asda and Aldi all now allow a set number of customers into the store at any one time.

When capacity is reached, people will have to queue outside the store at two-metre intervals.

Extra staff and security have been placed at the front of all the stores to ensure this is adhered to.

Tape has been put on the floor both throughout the stores and at the tills at two-metre intervals to show shoppers the minimum distance they should be keeping from each other.

Clear Perspex screens are being installed at checkouts to provide extra protection to staff where necessary.

In Tesco, only 50 customers are allowed in the store at any one time and people are asked to shop on their own and leave family members at home, with only one customer allowed per trolley.

Cleaning stations are also in place so shoppers can clean trolley and basket handles and scan-as-you-shop handsets.

Alongside Asda, there are also markers on the floor that guide people on a set route around the store to ensure social distancing measures can be adhered to.

Asda asks that customers only touch what they purchase and has closed its scan and go checkouts.

It has also donated £5million to FareShare and the Trussell Trust and will give more than 3,000 charities the ability to access free food over the next three months.

All of Aldi’s stores have now introduced a system that gives emergency workers priority in queues; this takes place every day of the week and runs alongside its Sunday priority hours scheme.

It is also donating to Neighbourly, a cause that helps Aldi invest in local communities.

Lidl and Iceland have also taken the approach to limit the number of people in their stores and remind their customers of the social distancing rules.

Lidl has also teamed up with the Royal Voluntary Service to deliver fresh fruit and veg to NHS staff.

Meanwhile, Iceland is closing every other checkout to make sure social distancing is maintained and is encouraging its customers to donate to the National Emergencies Trust.