Bradford-based supermarket giant Morrisons has become the first major UK retail chain to reintroduce restrictions on purchases of key items after the UK government imposed new measures to stem a second wave of COVID-19.

Morrisons said it was limiting consumers buying products such as rice, toilet rolls, soaps, disinfectants and bleach to a maximum of three items.

It has also applied limits to online orders.

“We’ve got decent stock levels but we want to be sure that they are available for everyone,” said a Morrisons spokesman.

Kimberly-Clark, maker of Andrex toilet rolls and Kleenex wipes, said it was currently seeing a moderate increase in the demand for Andrex toilet tissue.

But it stressed it had more than enough products.

“Our supply chain to our retail partners is running smoothly meaning we are well equipped to respond to, and meet, increased demand when required,” a company spokesperson said.