London, Mar 15 (IANS): A London man was mugged for his toilet paper just moments after leaving a store as the coronavirus pandemic has prompted widespread stockpiling in the British capital, a media report said.

The 56-year-old man, Dinendra was leaving a Savers store in Harringay, north London, on Saturday afternoon when someone ran up behind him and snatched one of the two toilet rolls he was carrying, the Daily Mail newspaper said in the report.

Dinendra, who only went into the story to buy toilet paper, told the Daily Mail: "I went to my local savers and bought two packs of toilet rolls. Someone came up from behind and stole one packet in broad daylight.

"I was shaken and shocked. Is that what we have come to? Its not the value of the toilet roll, its the principle.

"I'm concerned about the vulnerable people, the elderly. In terms of their health and their emotions as well."

The store Dinendra was shopping in saw huge crowds forming long queues as worried residents stocked up on goods.

Food retailers have urged customers to shop responsibly during the coronavirus outbreak as shelves have been stripped bare.

The incident comes as scores of shoppers have been panic-buying essentials, including toilet paper, as fears intensify over the spread of coronavirus which has so far infected 1,140 people in the UK, and killed 21 others.