Shoppers told not to panic buy (From Stroud News and Journal)

Shoppers told not to panic buy

SOME shoppers in Stroud began stockpiling on Thursday following America's attack on Iraq.

Supermarkets Sainsbury, Tesco and Waitrose reported an increase as customers loaded their trolleys with extra water, long-life milk and tinned foods.

"We have noticed a significant increase in the sales of these items," said John Taylor manager at Sainsbury in Dudbridge. Mr Taylor assured customers that the supermarket could meet demands as the war intensified and urged customers not to panic.

At Stroud's Tesco store customer service manager Sarah Wheatley told the SNJ that milk, beans and soup were high on customers' shopping lists on Thursday morning.

"These products are definitely being bought up. We have had to increase our stock levels significantly," she said.

A spokesman for Waitrose said supplies would be maintained and there was no need to buy extra provisions.

"We have noticed a modest up-lift in water and tinned meat today," he said.

Meanwhile the head of the emergency management service for Gloucestershire County Council was fielding calls from residents wanting to know what to do in the event of Iraqi reprisals.

Chris Phillips told the SNJ: "We've had a steady stream of inquiries from businesses and members of the public asking for advice."

He said there were two key messages. 1. Remain alert and vigilant, especially around transport centres such as stations and airports. Anything suspicious should be reported to the police immediately. 2. Take sensible precautions in the home. Make sure there are batteries for torches and radios, a supply of ready-to-eat tinned food, bottles of water and blankets but don't be tempted to stockpile.

Mr Phillips said people should also have a list of emergency numbers for utility companies and local authorities and they should make sure they know where the switches are for those utility supplies.

Wind-up radios and torches would be more useful than those which are battery operated he said.

But he stressed it was not necessary to stockpile food and said the Home Office did not recommend people seek out gas masks or chemical warfare suits.

Although Mr Phillips refused to comment on what plans were in place for potential targets in the county such as GCHQ, Fairford Airbase and the Royal households he did say there was an inter-agency group which had been planning for disasters, man-made or natural, for the last 13 years and Gloucestershire was well-prepared for the worst.