Shoppers started queuing outside supermarkets from 5am yesterday and many retailers were left with empty shelves after border concerns led to a surge in panic buying.
Sainsbury’s warned that the French ban on freight travel to Britain meant there could be shortages of lettuce, salad leaves, cauliflowers, broccoli and citrus fruit in the coming days.
The government told people to shop normally and “be considerate”.
Photographs emerged of queues at retailers around the country with reports on social media of rows breaking out among customers.
Ian Wright, chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation, said: “The suspension of accompanied freight traffic from the UK to France has the potential to cause serious disruption to UK Christmas fresh food supplies and exports of UK
