Morrisons will introduce a 'quiet hour' where lights are dimmed, music stopped and machines hushed in bid to calm customers with autism

  • Lights will be dimmed, beeping machines hushed and trolley noises reduced
  • Music and tannoy announcements will be stopped as well under the measures 
  • All of the retail giant’s 493 UK stores will use the scheme after a trial this year 

A weekly ‘quiet hour’ will be introduced at a supermarket chain to help customers with autism.

Lights will be dimmed, beeping machines will be hushed and trolley movements will be reduced from 9am to 10am every Saturday at Morrisons.

Music and tannoy announcements will be stopped and the volume will be turned down on self-service checkouts to help those who suffer from sensory overload caused by loud noises.

Morrisons said it planned to introduce the scheme to help those who suffer from sensory overload caused by loud noises

Morrisons said it planned to introduce the scheme to help those who suffer from sensory overload caused by loud noises

Daniel Cadey, from the National Autistic Society which helped to create the scheme, said: ‘This is a step in the right direction for autistic people who find supermarket shopping a real struggle.’

Bosses decided to introduce the idea at all of the retail giant’s 493 UK stores following a trial earlier this year.

Angela Gray, community champion at Morrisons supermarket in Woking, said: ‘I was involved in the initial trial as my son is autistic and we found that these changes made a real difference.’