Car retailers could be among a range of businesses whose click and collect sales capability is banned under tighter COVID-19 lockdown measures being considered by Government, it has been claimed.

Sources of The Telegraph and Mirror newspapers are among those suggesting that changes may be imposed as soon as this weekend as authorities attempt to stem the growth of the pandemic across the UK.

Under new legislation, click-and-collect services would be limited only to supermarkets and essential retail, they claimed.

The potential change of rules would follow a decision by John Lewis to suspend its click and collect services and tighten safety measures after a "change in tone" from the government over the virus.

The department store will also pause in-home services, unless they are "essential to customers' wellbeing", but will continue to allow customers to collect John Lewis orders from Waitrose supermarkets.

A statement on the gov.uk website said: "It may become necessary to pause all home moves locally or nationally for a short period of time to manage the spread of coronavirus. We will let you know if this needs to happen.”

Official figures show that the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital in England as of 8am on Tuesday stood at a record 32,202 - up 22% in a week.

A total of 45,533 new infections were reported, meanwhile, alongside a further 1,243 deaths within 28 days of a positive test..

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is among those calling for click and collect services to be axed for non-essential retailers as London reached the unenviable milestone of 10,000 deaths from coronavirus in its hospitals.

In a joint plea for tighter restrictions made by Khan this week said that if stricter measures were not introduced "as a matter of urgency" there was a fear that "the transmission of the virus will continue to spread across the capital, putting unsustainable strain on our NHS and public services."

Speaking to AM following the start of renewed lockdown restrictions across the UK last week, car retail group bosses told AM that consumer appetite would be the main factor affecting sales in the weeks ahead, with click and collect sales able to continue.

An end to click and collect sales in car dealership across the UK would inevitably prompt the return of thousands of the sector’s staff to furlough.