Empty shelves have been spotted at Kent supermarkets amid concerns shoppers have started panic buying.

In March, people stockpiled £60 million of goods as toilet rolls, pasta and handwash were among the items to sell-out.

This week, pictures of Sainsbury's in Pepper Hill, Gravesend, showed big gaps as similar products to those which proved popular when lockdown began almost exactly six months ago were once again in short supply.

But retail bosses have stressed there is more than enough stock and urged customers not to panic buy.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We can now serve twice as many people with home delivery and Click and Collect as we could six months ago and can reassure our customers there is good availability for slots and products in our stores.”

With more lockdown restrictions due to be announced later today by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, other supermarkets admitted there had been an increase in demand for certain goods.

An Iceland spokesman said: "We have seen a modest increase in demand for some lines in the last few days, but no evidence of panic buying.

"Stocks in our supply chain are good, and we have ample capacity for online deliveries following our substantial investment to greatly increase the number of slots we are able to offer.

"We do not envisage any repetition of the issues encountered earlier in the year so long as people continue to shop responsibly for what they actually need.

Trade chiefs were quick to back supermarkets for how they had responded to the pandemic but also called on customers "to be considerate".

Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: “Retailers have done an excellent job in ensuring customers have access to food and necessities throughout this pandemic.

"Since March, retail businesses have strengthened their supply chains as well as investing hundreds of millions to make stores safe and secure for customers; this includes perspex screens, social distancing measures and additional hygiene measures. As such, retail remains a safe space for consumers, even under future lockdowns.

"Nonetheless, we urge consumers to be considerate of others and shop as they normally would.”

“Supply chains are stronger than ever before and we do not anticipate any issues in the availability of food or other goods under any future lockdown.

"Nonetheless, we urge consumers to be considerate of others and shop as they normally would.”

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