A GLASGOW supermarket was forced to abandon a coronavirus safeguard after some shoppers complained it was 'holding them up.'

Tesco Extra on Maryhill Road had a security guard stationed at the entrance ensuring all shoppers wiped trolleys and their own hands with sanitiser before entering the store.

However, the employee is understood to have been taken off duty after customers complained to staff that the infection control measure was leading to delays.

The supermarket was still providing wipes and hand gel on a table near the escalator and had re-instated a member of staff at the entrance on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Jet 2 offers fresh advice to passengers 

Tesco is one of only a few supermarkets which has provided shoppers with hand gel and wipes.

One customer said: "It made sense having everybody clean the handle of their trolley or basket since it would take staff ages to get through every one, especially the way they get left lying around the car park.

"I said to the guy at the checkout that it was good they had hand sanitiser and he told me 'Not everybody appreciates it. We've had some customers having a go at us because they got held up.'

READ MORE: Coronavirus cases surge to 4229 with 74 more deaths 

"When I went in on Monday, there was nobody stopping people to tell them to clean their hands so people were just walking by the table with the cleaner and the sanitiser on it.

"It only takes a few seconds and it keeps everybody safe."

A spokeswoman for Tesco said: "We have introduced additional social distancing and hygiene measures in all our stores, including providing hand sanitiser and cleaning wipes.

"This is to protect our customers and colleagues and ensure that everyone in our stores maintains a safe distance. We're asking customers to help by following these measures.”

Shops are closing. Newspaper sales are falling. But we’ve chosen to keep our coverage of the Coronavirus crisis free because it’s so important that the people of Glasgow stay informed during this difficult time.

To help us get through this, we’re asking readers who can afford it to contribute either £3, £5 or £8 a month to the Glasgow Times.

If you choose to sign up, we’ll also take away all the adverts – and deliver a digital version of the print paper to your device. Click here to help Save Your Times