SHELVES at supermarket have been pictured lying bare amid concerns over the national 'pingdemic'.

Photos taken in Barrow's Tesco supermarket showed fridge and fruit sections almost empty amid concern over food shortages in stores nationally.

It is understood that the supermarket chain is experiencing disruption from a shortage of drivers and an increase in staff self-isolating on a precautionary basis.

The overall availability of food is thought to be good, although demand for certain products is said to be causing issues.

Staff are understood to be working hard to get shelves back to being fully stocked.

Retailers are under 'increasing pressure' to keep shelves fully stocked amid staff shortages, industry bosses have warned.

Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, told a national broadcaster that the country is 'facing a collapse' of the food chain.

He said: "In the next two to three weeks we are facing a collapse of the supply chain meaning even bigger gaps on supermarket shelves.

"We already have hauliers unable to move goods on a daily basis and we’re now facing a perfect storm."

He added: "This is a crisis on a scale we have never seen before in this industry and the Government is burying its head in the sand. It is not recognising the seriousness."

The Government has previously expressed concern over pictures of empty shelves.

It comes as Britain’s mounting lorry driver shortage also puts increased pressure on the country’s grocery supply chain.

Andrew Opie, the director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: “The ongoing ‘pingdemic’ is putting increasing pressure on retailers’ ability to maintain opening hours and keep shelves stocked. Government needs to act fast.

"Retail workers and suppliers, who have played a vital role throughout this pandemic, should be allowed to work to ensure there is no disruption to the public’s ability to get food and other goods."