Morrisons supermarkets around the country will introduce a quiet hour from this Saturday to make life easier for customers with autism.

People on the autistic spectrum can find the bright lights and loud noises in a supermarket alarming, so starting at 9am this Saturday, all branches of Morrisons will have a “quieter hour”.

The lights will be dimmed, screens and music switched off, till noises reduced and staff will take a break from moving trolleys and baskets around.

The Daily Post reported that the supermarket will also put up signs outside branches to let other customers know that from 9am until 10am each Saturday the supermarket is aiming to be a more peaceful environment.

Morrisons will begin the initiative this weekend

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

“The trial showed there is a need for a quieter shopping experience for some customers.”

What happens in Quieter Hour?

During Quieter Hour, the stores will:

  • Dim the lights
  • Turn music and radio off
  • Avoid making announcements
  • Reduce movement of trolleys and baskets
  • Turn checkout beeps and other electrical noises down
  • Place a poster outside to tell customers it’s Quieter Hour

The idea has been welcomed by the National Autistic Society.

Daniel Cadey from the society said: “Around 700,000 people are on the autism spectrum in the UK.

“This means they see, hear and feel the world differently to 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.”

Lights and sounds will be turned down during the quiet hour

According to research by the supermarket chain, one in five customers has had a friend or family member with autism and many liked the idea of being able to shop in more comfort.

Morrisons will continue to work to improve awareness among staff of the issues autistic customers face in store so that they can be made to feel more comfortable while shopping.

For more information about the quiet hour visit the Morrisons website by clicking here.