Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Staff at a Perth store walked out after facing a barrage of abuse from shoppers.

One employee of The Range at St Catherine’s Retail Park told the PA they were one of eight employees who walked out on Good Friday.

The employee said people’s families and lives were being put at risk by the DIY and furniture chain keeping its stores open throughout the lockdown.

Police were even called amid concerns guidelines were being breached, but officers said they found nothing amiss.

Over 15,000 people have signed an online petition for The Range to close its home, leisure and garden stores.

The majority of St Catherine’s Retail Park store customers are said to be packing into the DIY aisle to buy paint.

The Perth employee, who did not want to be named, said: “I have just walked out.

“The police phoned yesterday about complaints and said they (The Range) should be complying with non-essential buying.

“The general public are threatening to batter the staff. It was queued round to Dunelm. The public don’t care.

“The company won’t furlough any staff. For such a big company, there is no support for the staff.”

The Range employee said the police had told the store to only sell essential items but claimed the company over-ruled the Perth branch doing this and said stores should continue to sell all products.

Perth businessman making sure you still get your PA

The employee said The Range was only allowing 30 people in the store at a time to comply with guidelines.

But customers were then not adhering to social distancing rules in the store and cramming into one DIY aisle or the gardening section.

The worker added: “They are not bothered about markings.

“The staff on the door are taking verbal abuse every day from customers. Staff should feel comfortable. It’s madness.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We have been completely clear that any business not specifically required to close needs to be providing an essential or material effort against the virus or to the well-being of people.

“These are unprecedented times and non-essential services should close on a precautionary basis on the advice of the chief medical officer if health protection – including social distancing – cannot be adhered to for all staff and the public. If these conditions are not met the police have powers to take action.”

However, Police Scotland says officers did not find guidelines being breached at the Perth store when they arrived.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Officers have spoken to staff at a premises in St Catherine’s Retail Park, Perth, both in person and on the phone to remind them of government guidelines. Officers attended at the store around 2pm on Friday, April 10 but found no guidelines were being breached.”

The PA made numerous attempts to contact The Range but failed to get a response from its head office.

The manager at the Perth branch said he was unable to comment.