Supermarkets are even starting to ration water

A SUPERMARKET rationed sales of bottled water yesterday as shoppers stocked up in the heat.

An Aldi in Harringay, north London, put signs on shelves telling customers they could only buy five single bottles and three multipacks. It read: ‘Limits are necessary for supporting you and your neighbours to find the products you need.’

Aldi said it was not imposing a national limit on the sale of bottled water. Meanwhile, Asda yesterday became the latest retailer to take disposable barbecues off their shelves to reduce the risk of wildfires.

The temporary ban followed similar moves by Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Co-op, Morrisons, Ocado and Tesco. Waitrose and Aldi have stopped selling the barbecues permanently.

Campaigners said a complete halt to sales was necessary to stop the fire risk. An Asda spokesman said: ‘In light of the ongoing heatwave and dry conditions, we’ve now made the decision to temporarily pause the sale of disposable barbecues across the UK.’

Toby Tyler, whose son William, 11, required a skin graft after treading on sand heated up by a disposable barbecue, said retailers needed to step up their responsibilities.

The teacher, from Stockport, said: ‘They need to recognise the human injury and waste ele-Restriction: ments of this problem.’