A SAINSBURY'S supermarket in Dorset has been criticised for using cardboard images to 'disguise' empty shelves amid the current national food shortage.

Shoppers have taken to social media to share photographs of supermarket giants Tesco and Sainsbury's apparent attempts to improve the appearance of bare shelves as a shortage of lorry drivers continues to affect supply chains.

And Sainsbury's in Sherborne has been spotted using the tactic.

In response to a viral Twitter thread where social media users across the UK have been sharing snaps of cardboard replacements on bare shelves, one woman, Sharon Dale, shared this photograph depicting a cardboard display on the pasta aisle in the Dorset branch with the caption: "Sainsbury’s aren’t even trying to make it look genuine."

It comes amid ongoing food shortages as the UK economy has been disrupted by several factors that have been bubbling away for months - including labour shortages and new Brexit immigration rules affecting HGV drivers, and the lingering effects of the pandemic.

A Sainsbury's spokesman told the Echo that alternative products are available in store where there are sold-out ranges.

The spokeman said: "Our colleagues and suppliers are working hard to make sure customers can find everything they need when they shop with us.

"Availability in some product categories may vary but alternatives are available and stores continue to receive deliveries daily."

Dorset Echo: Supply chains are affected by ongoing shortages of lorry drivers - however the Government has offered assurances that there will not be shortage of turkey this Christmas (PA)Supply chains are affected by ongoing shortages of lorry drivers - however the Government has offered assurances that there will not be shortage of turkey this Christmas (PA)

There is estimated to be a shortfall of around 100,000 lorry drivers, and soaring energy costs have also added to the cost of food production and logistics.

The HGV driver shortage has had numerous knock-on effects and has caused a backlog at UK ports such as Felixstowe. Shipping containers were not able to be emptied and removed from the port quick enough for new deliveries to be deposited.

Globally, the pandemic is complicating international supply chain logistics, affecting grocery and toy imports.

The Government is said to be "confident" there will be turkeys for Christmas and has introduced 800 temporary visas for foreign butchers and 5,500 visas for poultry workers to come to the UK after labour shortages sparked fears that animals could not be processed in time.

Meanwhile, the ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, of 4,004 people, found that the proportion of adults struggling to buy food and medicine remained roughly the same as it was a fortnight ago.

Dorset Echo: Petrol shortages have improved - but supply chains continue to be affected (PA)Petrol shortages have improved - but supply chains continue to be affected (PA)

About one in six adults (16 per cent) reported they had not been able to buy essential food items because they were not available (down from 17 per cent).

The proportion unable to buy non-essential food items remained at 23 per cent.

The same proportion of adults reported waiting longer for prescriptions (13 per cent) or having to go to more pharmacies to find what they needed (4 per cent).

Overall, 47 per cent said everything they needed had been available to buy – a 10 percentage point fall from two weeks ago.