THE images of empty shelves and alarmist ‘food shortage’ headlines in the media is not doing the country any favours in the run-up to Christmas.

People are ramming their supermarket trollies and freezers full of food, leaving little for those who might simply want a bit of chicken for a Friday night curry.

Christmas is hard enough without having to stockpile turkey, pigs in blankets and mince pies two months beforehand. Shortage or no shortage, I refuse to do it.