A MOTHER has said she’s worried for the welfare of her autistic child during the coronavirus pandemic.

Alicia-Mae Jones, 12, only eats breadsticks contained in Dairylea Dunkers - and will not eat any other type of food.

Her mum, Stacey Smith, 33, from Worcester, is worried her daughter will not get the calories she needs and her health could suffer as a result after she struggled to get hold of the popular snack.

Stacey said: “She only eats the bread stick and not the cheese in each box.

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“I’ve tried just buying bread sticks as you can buy them in big boxes but, even though she’s visually impaired, she can feel the difference. We are staying indoors as Alicia-Mae has been fitted with a shunt near her brain to drain fluid and this makes her at greater risk of contracting corona so I don’t want to risk it.

“Family members have been getting the snack for her but many supermarkets restrict supplies of food to all customers and Alicia-Mae will easily go through 12 boxes each day.”

Worcester City councillor Richard Udall said: “Many supermarkets are restricting food during the current pandemic to ensure everyone has enough to eat. However, I know many supermarkets will take restrictions off for individuals who have special needs such as this case and this is done by speaking to a manager before arriving at a store.

“Aldi in St John’s have lifted restrictions off products for everyone, so Stacey could try there.

Towards the end of last month, supermarkets introduced a range of new measures in order to keep stores open and shelves stocked during the coronavirus pandemic.

Opening hours have been altered and some chains have increased worker pay as panic buying continues across the UK.

The Department for Transport has also relaxed restrictions on lorry drivers’ hours in order to keep supplies moving and supermarket stocks replenished.

Shelves had been stripped of essential items – such as toilet rolls, hand sanitiser, paracetamol, meat, fruit and vegetables – as shoppers ignore pleas not to stockpile. However, some supermarkets have begun to lift restrictions on the number of items shoppers can buy in one go.