The Central England Co-op, which operates a food store in Oakham, has reported a sharp increase in abuse against staff members.

The retailer is working with police in cases, which saw seen 24 incidents oven over the past four weeks, compared to 11 over the same period last year.

Incidents at its 260 food stores and petrol stations include threatening to cough and spit on staff, which store bosses have branded totally unacceptable.

In Rutland, a Co-op spokesman told Oakham Nub News: "The incidents so far have involved verbal comments from customers following their inability to find certain items of stock or being forced to wait.

"One occasion saw a customer suggest that they should 'cough' on colleagues because they did not have what they wanted."

However, to help protect staff and because the retailer is working with the police on some cases, the spokesman was unable to give further details.

Central England Co-op chief executive Debbie Robinson said most people have treated staff with dignity and respect, but she would like a change in the law.

"I am a strong campaigner for shop workers to be treated as public servants in the eyes of the law, in cases where they suffer violence or risk from the public.

"I would hope their status in society will now be permanently elevated and I am redoubling my efforts in lobbying for a change in sentencing law to ensure those who choose to attack our colleagues are held accountable for their actions on the same level as other frontline workers."

Central England Co-op has already rolled out a range of other measures in stores aimed at keeping customers and colleagues safe including social distancing, gloves and hand sanitiser, over 1,000 checkout screens, 7,000 face visors for colleagues and over 150 security guards to help with queues.