Home Bargains denies overcrowding and Covid-self isolating staff working at Doncaster store

The firm has also hit back at accusations of overcrowding at its branch at the Centurion Retail Park in Bentley, after a photo emerged of packed aisles inside the store over the weekend.

A former employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, claimed that staff who were supposed to be in self-isolation were being forced to work.

They said: "They have been making people in contact with or who live with people who've had a positive result come into work, putting other staff and the public in danger.

"This store has a massive foot fall everyday and when confronted by staff over these matters, they either threaten to terminate your employment, disciplinary action or notice of improvement to make you keep your mouth shut.”

But Home Bargains has denied the accusations and said: "We continue to comply with legal requirements and align to government guidelines on all aspects of helping to prevent the spread of the virus.

"This includes limiting customer numbers, maintaining social distancing and advising employees to stay at home if they are suspected or confirmed as infected."

It comes after one customer at the store off Bentley Road described crowded aisled at the store as ‘an absolute joke’ over the weekend.

The shopper said that her husband had spoken to a member of staff and was told that the store was operating within its capacity.

She said: “They have got people queing outside but they can't tell customers where to queue to pay – they say that's down to the customers to sort as they don't want conflict from telling people where to stand.

"Honestly it was carnage, there were three aisles full of people crowding to pay – we didn't bother in the end we just left.”

Earlier this year, supermarket giant Asda was also accused of overcrowding at its Doncaster Lakeside store, with scuffles breaking out among customers ignoring rules over social distancing and fears of crowded aisles.