OUR reporter George Lythgoe's account in this week's Mail of how a normal weekend shopping trip is now anything but normal will strike a chord with many readers.

His account of queues forming outside the supermarket, shoppers wearing face masks, and near-empty shelves would have been unthinkable just a few short weeks ago.

The Government has said that people should only shop for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, as infrequently as possible, while remaining two metres apart from others. This has required a major change in shopping habits which has not been easy for anyone.

It's another example of something we all took for granted but probably never will again.

Social distancing and lockdown measures have made even a quick dart out to the corner shop for milk a stressful experience.

A lot of praise has been given to key workers from the emergency services during the pandemic and rightly so. Our thanks should also go to the teams of staff at supermarkets and stores, and those carrying out deliveries.

George mentions how a worker at the shop he visited sounded 'drained'. It's no wonder as staff work hard to keep products on the shelves while serving tense and worried customers.

A big thank you to them for keeping us all supplied with the necessities of food and drink during these difficult times.