Castleford man's ingenious £3,000 toilet roll plan as Coronavirus panic buying leaves supermarket shelves empty

Richard Taylor created the listing earlier today, after seeing a series of posts about empty supermarket shelves.

A number of UK supermarkets have announced rationing measures after panicked shoppers stripped the shelves of basic items including rice, soap and toilet paper amid rising fears over the new Coronavirus.

In his Facebook Marketplace listing, Richard said: "For sale matching pair of toilet rolls. £3000 each or £5000 for pair.

"Would like them to stay together if possible. From smoke free home, buyer to collect."

Restricted traffic and temporary lights for EIGHT weeks on Wakefield road due to 'essential' repairs

Richard, 61, said he hoped his post would remind people how unnecessary the shopping had become.

He said: "I got up this morning and checked through my Facebook and I thought I could do something really funny here.

"They're unused, obviously, and they're a matching pair. I'm not giving away my last two. I haven't panic bought but I've still got a good half a dozen more.

"It's funny but I'm sending a serious message. Going into the supermarkets and finding nothing on the shelves or anything, we've never had anything like this since rationing.

"It's complete madness. It's not just toilet rolls, if I'd had any hand sanitiser I'd have whacked that on there too."

Shoppers across the Wakefield district have reported finding empty shelves in supermarkets, though Richard, 61, said he had not yet received any serious offers for his toilet rolls.

The government has repeated calls for the public to remain calm, and said there is no need to stock up on goods.

The official advice remains to focus on personal hygiene, washing your hands for 20 seconds at a time, and to self-isolate if returning from a high risk area, or if you present with the early symptoms of the virus: a dry cough, high temperature or shortness of breath.