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BASKET CASE

Shoppers can buy Christmas puddings but not an umbrella as Wales cracks down on ‘non-essential’ items

A SHOPPER holds two baskets of goods at an Asda in Wales — one full of items you can buy, one with stuff you cannot.

Among the permitted products are wine and spirits, children’s sweets, custard, dog treats and Christmas puddings.

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Shoppers in Wales are allowed to buy items such as sweets and alcohol but not torches and Halloween outfits
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Shoppers in Wales are allowed to buy items such as sweets and alcohol but not torches and Halloween outfitsCredit: Wales News Service

Prohibited items at the Cardiff store included drinks glasses, torches and Halloween outfits.

Shoppers blasted the Welsh Labour government’s interpretation of what qualifies as “essential” and “non-essential”.

Dad-of-two Edward Day, 37, said: “It’s ridiculous. It’s pouring with rain half the time yet you can’t get an umbrella.

"You can get a bottle of vodka but not the glasses to go with it.

“I get that people are being advised to stay home but this is just going to drive people to shop online and how is that good for the economy?”

Gwilym Owen, 27, tore down barriers blocking shoppers from goods at a Tesco, believed to be in Bangor, North Wales.

The Welsh Government has defended its ban on supermarkets selling non-essential items.

It tweeted on Saturday: “Supermarkets can keep selling items you can find in other essential shops - such as stationery/greeting cards.

“The purpose of selling essential items only during firebreak is to discourage spending more time than necessary in shops and to be fair to retailers who have to close.

“This is not for the sake of being difficult - we need to do everything we can to minimise the time we spend outside our homes. This will help save lives and protect the NHS.”

Gwilym Owen tore down barriers blocking shoppers from goods at a Tesco
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Gwilym Owen tore down barriers blocking shoppers from goods at a TescoCredit: Wales News Service
Non-essential items, including clothing, have been blocked from shoppers
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Non-essential items, including clothing, have been blocked from shoppersCredit: Robert Melen
'Non-essential' items banned from Welsh shops as country enters COVID lockdown

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