MORRISONS stores across the country are introducing a weekly ‘quiet hour’ for shoppers with autism.

Stores have teamed up with the National Autistic Society to open specially for residents for one hour every Saturday morning.

During the autism hour, no public address announcements will be made and music will not be played over the loudspeaker system.

Lights in the supermarket will be dimmed and 'beeps' from checkouts will also be turned down.

Daniel Cadey, the from the National Autistic Society, said: “Around 700,000 people are on the autism spectrum in the UK. This means they see, hear and feel the world differently from other people, often in a more intense way.

“Morrisons' ‘quieter hour’ is a step in the right direction for autistic people who find supermarket shopping a real struggle.”

The quiet hour will be held between 9am and 10am beginning this weekend on Saturday, July 21.