HOME Bargains has introduced a weekly quiet hour at its Kendal and Barrow stores to create a calmer environment for shoppers with autism.

The quiet shopping hour takes place every Saturday, between 9am – 10am, and sees the stores’ music turned off and its tannoy set aside, used for urgent announcements only.

The initiative was created in conjunction with The National Autistic Society, the UK’s leading charity for autistic people, which has advised on creating the ideal environment for shoppers with autism.

Those who suffer from autism can find loud noises and sudden movements distressing.