DEDICATED shopping hours for NHS and other emergency workers, and for older and more vulnerable people, are being introduced by Marks & Spencer (M&S).

The store wants to help ensure its older and more vulnerable customers can access the food and products they need by reserving the first hour of trading for them at all of its owned stores - with the first of these taking place tomorrow.

Subsequently, the first hour of trading on Mondays and Thursdays will be reserved for the elderly and vulnerable.

And M&S is also introducing a special shopping hour to support NHS and emergency services workers, to be the first hour on Tuesday and Friday mornings.

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Customers can find the details of their local store opening times on the M&S website.

The store is also extending temporary purchasing restrictions to two items per customer to cover frozen foods, homecare, groceries and eggs, in response to there having been unprecedented demand on some lines. Thousands of staff who work in M&S clothing & home departments and in its cafes are being transferred to support food departments and stores, with M&S cafés and clothing & home fitting rooms being closed temporarily.