Shoppers began queueing at supermarkets from 5.50am this morning as people rushed to buy groceries before Christmas amid a French ban on British hauliers.
The country closed their borders to UK travellers as large swathes of the country went into Tier 4 lockdown as the mutant Covid strain spread across parts of London and the south east.
Industry insiders have warned France‘s coronavirus ban on British lorries could stop hauliers bringing in vital festive food supplies.
Countries including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and Bulgaria announced restrictions on UK travel following the outbreak of the new strain across South East England.
This shopper began queueing outside a supermarket which already had a line of people waiting at 5.50am today
French borders were closed this morning as a 48 hour travel ban comes into force as a mutant strain of the covid virus spreads
It comes as:
- The Food and Drink Federation warned of ‘serious disruption to UK Christmas fresh food supplies and exports’;
- Italy said the mutant strain had been detected in a traveller who recently returned to the country from the UK;
- The British Retail Consortium warned closure of France to UK traffic would create ‘difficulties’ for UK trade;
- Nicola Sturgeon said it was ‘imperative’ the UK Government sought an extension to Brexit transition period;
- Ireland has imposed a 48-hour ban on flights from Britain while ferries would be restricted to freight only;
- Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted the new Tier 4 restrictions may have to remain in place for months.
Food and Drink Federation chief executive Ian Wright warned last night: ‘The suspension of accompanied freight traffic from the UK to France has the potential to cause serious disruption to UK Christmas fresh food supplies and exports of UK food and drink.
‘Continental truckers will not want to travel here if they have a real fear of getting marooned. The Government must very urgently persuade the French government to exempt accompanied freight from its ban.’
It also comes amid fears that a Brexit deal will not be reached before the end of the year, causing Britain to crash out of the EU.
Long queues formed at this Tesco store in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, yesterday after the Tier 4 lockdown was announced
People queued after it was announced all non essential shops and retailers will close in areas including London, Kent, Essex and Bedfordshire. Pictured: Tesco supermarket in Essex
The Tier 4 restrictions also mean people under the highsest set of restrictions cannot mix indoors with anyone not from their household
The Port of Dover closed to all accompanied traffic leaving the UK for the next 48 hours after France imposed an inbound travel ban. Pictured: Lorries queue on the M20 in Folkestone
Opearation Stack was being implemented on the M20 in Kent last night – when parts of the motorway are set aside to park lorries queuing for Channel ports
‘In the supermarket queue at 5.50 to get my hands on blockade/Brexit bog roll’, one shopper posted on Twitter alongside a picture of a line of people already queueing.
The British Retail Consortium previously urged shoppers not to ‘clear out’ the shelves amid concerns over a no deal Brexit.
Earlier this month they said retailers are ‘increasing the stock of tins, toilet rolls and other longer life products so there will be sufficient supply of essential products’.
They hopes to avoid a repeat of scenes seen earlier in the pandemic, when panic buying led to empty supermarket shelves and restrictions on key items.
Supermarkets previously limited the sale of key items such as toilet roll, and staples such as rice, flour and pasta.
But the French travel ban will lead to shortages, the industry experts said.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) warned the closure of France to UK traffic would create ‘difficulties’ for UK imports and exports in the busy Christmas period.
Andrew Opie, the BRC’s director of food and sustainability, said any ‘prolonged’ disruption would be a problem in the run-up to the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31.
‘While goods can enter from France, few haulage firms will be willing to send trucks and drivers across to the UK without a guarantee they can return to the EU in a timely manner,’ he said.
‘This is a key supply route for fresh produce at this time of year.
‘We urge the UK Government and the EU to find a pragmatic solution to this as soon as possible, to prevent disruption for consumers.
‘Retailers have stocked up on goods ahead of Christmas which should prevent immediate problems.
‘However, any prolonged closure of the French border would be a problem as the UK enters the final weeks before the transition ends on December 31.’
The Port of Dover was today closed to all freight vehicles leaving the UK for the next 48 hours.
Hauliers coming to Britain from France will still be allowed in but there are fears that lorry drivers will not travel to avoid being ‘marooned’ in the UK.
It could cause supermarket shelves to empty of essential ingredients for the Christmas Day festive feast.
Tube stations and high streets were equally deserted as London went into its first day of Tier 4 lockdown, with limits on travel outside the area and almost no shops allowed to remain open
The Prime Minister will hold an emergency Cobra meeting today to discuss the French ban to ensure ‘robust plans are in place’.
A No 10 spokesman said yesterday: ‘The Prime Minister will chair a Cobra meeting tomorrow to discuss the situation regarding international travel, in particular the steady flow of freight into and out of the UK.’
The newly introduced Tier 4 restictions mean all non essential shops and retailers will close in areas including London, Kent, Essex, Surrey- excluding Waverley – and Bedfordshire.
Supermarkets, pharmacies and petrol stations remained on the Government’s permitted list – as do the less-obvious Christmas tree retailers, dry cleaners, archery and shooting ranges and outdoor riding centres.
The last minute annoucement gave Britons just eight hours to complete their gift shopping ahead of Christmas Day before the rules kicked in at midnight.
High streets and trains in Tier 4 regions were left deserted yesterday as all non-essential shops closed their doors. Tube stations were equally empty after travel out of the capital was restricted.
People in the highest band of restrictions also cannot mix indoors with anyone not from their household.