Shoppers will be allowed to buy Easter eggs from shops and supermarkets despite reports they had been branded 'non-essential' items.
Earlier this week, reports emerged that shop owners had complained that council officers had told them they couldn't sell certain Easter treats, including eggs and hot cross buns, during the coronavirus crisis.
However, the Manchester Evening News reports that the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has now cleared things up, and has told members to continue selling Easter goodies as normal.
That means if you want to buy an Easter egg for a loved one or for yourself, there's no rules preventing you from doing so.
However, if possible you should aim to purchase Easter eggs as part of your 'essential' shop, as this will prevent the need for an extra trip out of the house that could potentially put yourself, others, and the NHS at risk.
Some websites such as Cadbury and Amazon are still selling eggs, though these are now considered 'non-essential' items and have been de-prioritised for delivery, so there's no guarantee you'll receive them in time for Easter (which falls on Sunday 12 Aprilthis year).
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: "The government have defined which stores can remain open, and that includes convenience stores including newsagents and off licences.
"There is no government definition of which products can be sold within those stores.
"This is overzealous enforcement and a misreading of the rules.
"In the cases where officers have challenged retailers and shoppers in this way, it’s brought confusion, distracted retailers in the busiest weeks of their lives, and increased the interactions between people at a time when the government is trying to minimise them.
“Our assured advice scheme exists precisely for moments like this when local enforcement officers may be interpreting rules in their own way and coming up with incorrect approaches."
