Andy Burnham calls for 9pm ban on supermarket alcohol sales alongside 10pm curfew

People in Soho, London, after pubs and restaurants were subject to a 10pm curfew to combat the rise in coronavirus cases in England (Picture: PA)

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has called for an urgent review of the 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants, suggesting a 9pm ban on alcohol supermarket sales alongside it.

Ministers are under growing pressure to review the “hard” 10pm curfew amid criticism that the new rules are leading to revellers filling streets en masse.

Crowds of people were pictured on Saturday night gathering in city centres and piling onto public transport.

Meanwhile long queues formed at off licences after venues kicked customers out at 10pm.

Mr Burnham said it had resulted in people gathering in shops and homes once the bars closed.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham (PA Archive/PA Images)

“I received reports that the supermarkets were absolutely packed out to the rafters with people gathering,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“I think there needs to be an urgent review of the emerging evidence from police forces across the country.

“My gut feeling is that this curfew is doing more harm than good. It creates an incentive for people to gather in the street or more probably to gather in the home.

“That is the opposite of what local restrictions here are trying to do.”

Mr Burnham called for a 9pm ban on supermarket alcohol sales.

"Let me give some suggestions", he said.

"Perhaps there could be a 9pm curfew on the sale of alcohol in supermarkets and shops that would prevent the rush to shops once pubs have closed. That’s what we certainly saw on Saturday."

There has been an outbreak in student halls (PA)

Mr Burnham also addressed an outbreak of coronavirus in Manchester Metropolitan University's halls.

He said he has been assured that students at the university are not being prevented from leaving their accommodation to go for coronavirus tests.

“I have spoken to the vice-chancellor and I am assured that people are able to leave if they have got good reason to do that,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“But what has happened over the weekend is that the university has been dealing with a very worrying situation. It obviously required a firm response when there are over a hundred cases.

“I have been assured there is a support package now in place for students.”