WEATHER PANIC: EMPTY SHELVES AS SHOPPERS RUSH TO STOCK UP

Supermarkets reported that customers were stock-piling cooking salt and even cat litter which can be used to help clear household paths and driveways of ice.

Thermal underwear and various types of comfort food were also popular.

Asda saw its sales of thermal underwear rocket by 1,000 per cent in 48 hours and grit, salt, shovels and hot water bottles flew off the shelves.

Tesco’s senior convenience foods buyer Simon Williams said: “The last snowfall two weeks ago caught many people out and made shopping trips quite hazardous especially in more open areas so it appears that this time round shoppers are being more canny and are stocking up just in case.”

DIY chain B&Q reported a leap of up to 200 per cent in sales of shovels, boots and rock salt in the past month compared to a year earlier while Morrisons said it was selling 400 per cent more cooking salt compared to last week.

Sainsbury’s also reported shoppers stocking up on winter essentials such as hotpots, casseroles and flasks.

Homebase shifted 1,000 per cent more snow shovels in the past three weeks than in the same period a year earlier.