Panicking shoppers stockpiled bottles of water in a Costco store as Britain basks in a 30C, early summer heatwave. Worried customers were seen loading up huge packs of 40 for £6. One man was seen with two of the bulk buy Kirkland 500ml packages. Other shoppers could be seen with multiple trays in the trolleys.

The aisle where the bottled water was on the shelves was rammed with customers. It happened at Costco, in Chingford, east London. “I went for a regular monthly shop,” one onlooker told What’s The Jam. “But so many people were crowded by the water section trying to grab them. It was like standstill traffic. People were grabbing it off the pallet trucks while the workers were distributing it out.”

It happened on Sunday (22 Jun) as the UK enjoyed a 30C (86F) heatwave. The country is still in the middle of consistent warm weather with virtudally no rain for weeks. Locals poked fun at the panic buying. Some compared it to the Covid-19 pandemic rush to buy toilet rolls which led to shortages in stores.

Joyce Mansfield said: “Whats wrong with tap water?”
Mark echoed this and added: “We all have perfectly safe drinking water from the tap.”
Irene Moore joked: “Toilet paper.
“Don’t forget the toilet paper.”
Another said: “Ah, Covid all over again.
“Panic buying, fear and debt.”