SHOPS across Worcestershire have sold out of 100-watt light bulbs as shoppers stock up before they are removed from the shelves for good.

The Government has signed up to a EU decision to replace conventional 100w lightbulbs with low-energy alternatives.

Retailers have already voluntarily stopped buying in the traditional bulbs, which will eventually become banned under EU law.

But some shoppers, not keen on switching to the low-energy bulbs, have caused scenes of panic buying in Worcestershire stores. Yesterday, Argos; the Co-op in St John’s, Worcester; Jeynes hardware in St John’s and Sainsbury’s in Blackpole, Worcester, had all sold out of conventional 100w bulbs, although Jeynes said it was expecting more stock next week.

Stores such as Tesco, and city centre specialists Jessica Jones Lighting Consultants and J and E Nevitt, have reported a huge surge in demand and Homebase has already stopped stocking them. The Government and green campaigners say the switch to energy-efficient bulbs will reduce carbon dioxide.

But many people remain unconvinced by the more expensive low-energy alternatives and there have been concerns that they could trigger health problems such as skin rashes, migraines and epilepsy.

They also contain mercury, which makes them dangerous if broken and difficult to dispose of and there are concerns about the quality of light they give off and the fact they don’t work with dimmer switches.

Jessica Jones Lighting Consultants in Reindeer Court, Worcester, will be giving away 1,000 100w bulbs on Saturday.

Director Alan Mansfield said: “Our customers have this week been hounding us for bulbs and we have been selling six or seven times more than we usually do, it’s just crazy.

“So we will be giving some away to help them. They are just telling us they want bulb lights they can see, rather than the low-energy lights which they don’t like.

“People are ringing up, someone asked for 40 yesterday, and they are also coming in to the shop, and rather than buying just the one, they are buying eight or nine at once.” Mr Mansfield said that although he wasn’t against energy-saving light bulbs, he believed the ordinary bulbs should be available for those consumers who want them.

“It is just ridiculous how we are being forced into buying low-energy bulbs. They just haven’t thought this through properly,” he said. Mr Mansfield said some lamps and light fittings did not suit the greener bulbs, and suggested some people would be turning their heating up as there was less heat output from the energy-saving bulbs.

At J and E Nevitt in Broad Street, Worcester, they have also noticed a huge rise in sales of the bulbs. Owner Andrew Nevitt said: “Our sales have almost doubled since the decision was made and it also seems like the big supermarkets have stopped selling them. People just want to buy the bulbs they are used to.” Rod Howell, chairman of environment group One Planet Worcester, said he welcomed the voluntary phasing out of the light bulb and that he found it a shame people were having to stock-pile the bulbs when energy efficient ones were available.