Sainsbury's has announced that they will be setting aside the first hour of opening time on Thursday 19th March exclusively for the vulnerable and elderly.

It has also been announced that they will be helping elderly and vulnerable customers access food online - starting from the 23rd March, online customers over 70 years old will have priority access to delivery slots.

The supermarket conglomerate also announced they would be closing their cafe and deli counters from Thursday 19th March, in order to help them get more essential items onto the shelves.

In a statement from a Sainsbury's spokesperson, they said:

"A number of you suggested that we reserve an hour in stores for elderly and vulnerable customers. In response to this request, we will set aside the first hour in every supermarket this Thursday, 19th March, for elderly and vulnerable customers.

"If you or an elderly family member, friend or neighbour would like to shop during this hour, please check online for your local supermarket opening hours.

"We will also help elderly and vulnerable customers access food online. From Monday, 23rd March, our online customers who are over 70 years of age or have a disability will have priority access to online delivery slots.

"As we work to feed the nation, we are also focusing all of our efforts on getting as much food and other essential items from our suppliers, into our warehouses and onto shelves as we possibly can. We still have enough food for everyone – if we all just buy what we need for us and our families.

"To help us get more essential items onto the shelves, from this Thursday, 19th March, we will be closing our cafes and our meat, fish and pizza counters in supermarkets. This means we can free up warehouse and lorry capacity for products that customers really need. It will also free up time for our store colleagues to focus on keeping the shelves as well-stocked as possible."

Sainsbury's announcement of its coronavirus plans follows