Major supermarkets experienced refrigeration disruption with shelves left bare during the 'extreme' heatwave sweeping the UK on Wednesday (June 24). Fridges and freezers in stores such as Tesco and M&S were marked with printed notices as customers encountered empty aisles.

Tesco branches in Haslingden, Crewe and Altrincham were reported to have been left depleted, with video footage provided to the Manchester Evening News. Photographs also revealed malfunctioning fridges in the Crewe M&S.

There were accounts of Sainsbury's branches elsewhere in the UK also experiencing difficulties.

The retailers appeared to have problems with their refrigeration equipment as the UK contended with climbing temperatures in recent days, with customers saying they were finding it difficult to obtain basket staples like meats and milk.

"Anyone thinking of going in Haslingden Tesco don't bother! Pretty much all the fridge and freezers are broken," one individual posted on social media. "Meat isle is completely empty and they won't let you take anything out of the yogurt isle. Will be loads of food gone to waste today."

Meanwhile, footage and photographs revealed numerous empty shelves in refrigerated sections at a Tesco outlet in Altrincham.

A sign on the fridges stated: "This unit is not currently in use. This is to ensure the remaining fridges/freezers in this store can operate at full capacity."

Notices on the Crewe outlet fridges stated: "Unfortunately this fridge is out of order."

Another customer reported there were 'fridges and freezers off' in the Crewe Tesco, noting: "At the MandS there were some broken fridges and some with notices saying they've been switched off. It was the same situation at Waitrose in Sandbach with broken down fridges. I think the entire UK is in meltdown."

Social media users from across the UK also documented their experiences on Wednesday, which became the hottest June day on record. Temperatures reached a provisional 36C, surpassing the previous record from the summer of 1976.

One user posted on X: "If anyone is desperate for MandS, do not go to High Wycombe retail park All the fridges are off-line literally only got dry stuff available," while another shared a photograph in a Tesco displaying a 'refrigeration breakdown' notice, writing: "The fridges in my local shop this morning couldn't deal with the heat. Have you seen the same thing where you live?" Meanwhile, a third user commented: "Anybody shopping in our little suburban town today will be unlucky. The 2 supermarkets, Waitrose and Sainsbury's have malfunctioning, and consequently entirely empty, fridges. That tells you a) this isn't normal and b) we're not built for it."

A Morrisons outlet in Swindon also issued an apology on Wednesday after photographs revealed a line of vacant freezers, attributing it to a 'maintenance issue'.

This follows much of England and Wales experiencing exceptionally hot and humid weather, which has triggered amber and a rare red warning from the Met Office for extreme heat, anticipated to persist for the rest of the week.

Tesco, M&S and Waitrose were approached for a comment.