SALES of salt have reportedly reached unprecedented levels as cautious customers stock up amid frosty conditions.

SALES of salt have reportedly reached unprecedented levels as cautious customers stock up amid frosty conditions.

Demand for granular and rock salt has gone through the roof at one Suffolk stockist due to the current hostile weather.

The Tripp Batt Country Store, in Stanton, near Bury St Edmunds, has never experienced such a rush of sales of the salt, normally used for dishwashers and water softeners.

The store sells around thirty bags a month but has now sold out due to sales being ten times the normal rate.

Store manager Ian Shilling said: “Sales started to rise just before Christmas so we sent a van to get over a tonne of extra salt and now that is all gone.

“Our Cheshire based supplier is the largest in the country and they are working flat out dealing with the local authorities.”

The store which serves a large area of west Suffolk expects a quota of stock this Friday which should last into next week.