Coronavirus: Ban on late-night lorry deliveries could be lifted to prevent supermarket shortages

Ministers also consider relaxing restrictions on drivers’ hours – limits imposed on safety grounds

Curfew rules banning lorries from delivering supplies to supermarkets late at night could be ripped up to prevent shortages because of the coronavirus.

Ministers are also considering a controversial proposal to waive restrictions on the maximum number of hours drivers are allowed at the wheel. The limits are currently imposed on safety grounds.

The move comes after panic buying stripped supermarket shelves of essentials such as food, toilet roll and medicines in some areas at the weekend.

Ministers are holding crunch talks today with store bosses – who have called for both restrictions to be relaxed – to try to ensure supplies are not disrupted in areas worst affected by the outbreak.

“We are looking very seriously at lifting the restrictions, which is something the supermarkets have requested,” a government source told The Independent.

“We are still talking to them, but it would give them greater flexibility to make more deliveries at earlier times of the day and at the end of the day.”

An announcement could come as early as this week and might not require the promised emergency legislation which has yet to be published.

The proposal emerged as the government appeared to step back from imposing draconian, Italian-style restrictions on citizens, after Boris Johnson met with senior ministers and medical experts.

Full details of the meeting have not yet emerged, but The Independent understands the UK is still some way from urging people to work at home, or from closing down schools or other gatherings.

The prime minister’s spokesperson ruled out, at least for now, playing sporting events behind closed doors, saying: “It is not something that is being advised at the moment.”

And Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said of possible restrictions: “Acting too early creates its own risks, so we will do what is right to keep people safe.

Ministers are concerned about “restrictions fatigue” if they are imposed too early, having been advised that people will begin ignoring them after a few weeks if they are imposed too soon.

But, in explosive comments, Rory Stewart, the former Conservative cabinet minister and now mayoral hopeful, said: “The government has made a serious mistake today.

“They should be acting much more aggressively to contain coronavirus. Schools should be shut now.

“If the government are not prepared to shut them now, they should – at the very least – state clearly and transparently what their triggers will be for closing schools over the next few days.

“All medium and large gatherings should be cancelled. All passengers coming from hotspots should be tested and quarantined. There is no justification for half-hearted measures.”