NHS workers queued outside a Lewisham Tesco for over an hour this morning due to confusion over new opening times.

The supermarket chain announced on Friday that hospital workers would be allowed to browse stores an hour early on Sunday, giving them improved access to goods in the face of continued stockpiling.

However confusion over revised opening hours, which also apply to the vulnerable and elderly, led to frustrated NHS staff arriving an hour earlier than needed.

Dan Thorpe, leader of Greenwich Council, who went to the store with an NHS friend, said: "This morning I took my friend who works in the NHS to #nhshour at Tesco in Lewisham.

"I can absolutely say it is not working. These are NHS staff queuing since 8 who thought it opened at 9 for them. And then people stopped joining the queue and headed for the doors.

"The store manager asked everyone to remain calm. I spoke to district nurses, staff from Lewisham NHS who were understandably upset and distressed.

"We have to feed everyone, particularly workers from NHS & across the public sector who are on the front line of responding to COVID19 - we have to do this safely, in a socially distanced way and in a way that reduces the stress for everyone who is dealing with this."

The confusion appears to have stemmed from another announcement, where Tesco said stores would prioritise the elderly and vulnerable from 9am until 10am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The Lewisham branch did open an hour early as stated, at 10am instead of its usual Sunday opening time of 11am.

Dan Thorpe said the supermarket should clarify its messaging to avoid future mix-ups.

Similar scenes occurred outside Tesco's Woolwich branch, where queues were also pictured.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be speaking to supermarket bosses about efforts to keep supplies flowing as ministers pleaded with the public to stop panic buying during the pandemic.

Shelves have been stripped of essential items, such as toilet rolls, hand sanitiser, paracetamol, meat, fruit and vegetables as shoppers ignore pleas not to stockpile.