A SHOPKEEPER has apologised after charging customers £10 for a pack of toilet roll and has said he will reimburse them.

Residents in Manningtree, on the Essex/Suffolk border, hit out after the exorbitant cost of the toilet paper was revealed.

Simon Doherty, 38, accused Stourview Stores Premier shop, in Station Road, Manningtree, of “profiteering from an emergency situation” by charging £10 for a pack of nine toilet rolls.

The Manningtree resident said: “The village is displeased as they are doing this in both their stores.

“To use this to profiteer in the midst of a crisis is a despicable act.

“Manningtree and the community are tight knit and support each other.

“To have this selfish and greedy act occur is shocking to us.”

A resident, who asked to remain anonymous, described the price rise as “disgusting".

She added: “They were asking the community for help a couple of weeks ago, where are they helping the community now?”

Another resident said: “Taking advantage of the situation is an absolutely appalling community spirit from these convenience stores. I thought we were all supposed to help each other.”

Chandran Parn, 42, of Station Road, owns both the Premier shop in Station Road and in Honeycroft Post Office, in Waldegrave Way, Lawford.

The shop owner said he charged customers more because he bought the products from London and they were more expensive.

However, he promised to make amends.

He said: “I am sorry for my actions and I’m apologising to the whole community.

“I’ll reimburse people who have been charged extra.

“I’ll give a kitchen towel for free and give their money back.”

He added he has been living in Manningtree for 20 years and was always trying to help the community when he could.

Manningtree councillor Carlo Guglielmi said it was really irresponsible of him to do this in these difficult times, when the community should be working together.

He added: “I have some sympathy for him as he might have paid a huge amount of money himself and if people wouldn’t be panic buying, nobody would face situations like this.

“People will look at it as being ridiculous and profiteering of a bad situation. I think it was naive of him.

“I hope this taught him a lesson he won’t forget and if he is going to refund people and not do this again, then hopefully people will forgive him.

“As people are emptying the supermarkets, the small shops might be the saviour, and in times like this, he should go out of his way to help the community.”