Bank Holiday shoppers were turned around by police at a B&Q store after 400 cars turned up to collect online orders.
A gridlock was caused on surrounding roads after hundreds of cars arrived to collect items ordered online.
The DIY and hardware giant had closed its shops during the coronavirus lockdown. But customers are still able to select goods on its website to pick them up.
Yesterday the UK total for deaths surged over 11,000 with hundreds more expected every day for the coming week at least.
The country has been in lockdown for three weeks - and it is expected today that it will be extended until May.
And on Sunday hundreds of shoppers arrived at the B&Q in Nottingham's Riverside Retail park eager to collect their online orders.
With an overload of customers, police were drafted to help with traffic management.
Officers parked a van across the store's car park entrance and told motorists to come back later - in some cases a different day - to collect their shopping.
Assistant chief constable Steve Copper, of Notts Police, said: "A lot of people have been using the B&Q click and collect service, but what has happened is a lot of people went to collect their items at the same time this morning.
"There were quite a lot of cars on the roads and slip roads - at one point the estimate was 400.
"We have been working with B&Q and keeping the main roads open.
"We are not banning people or closing it - we want B&Q to keep the store open."
A spokeswoman for B&Q said: "We can confirm that the police have been on site at Riverside Retail Park in Nottingham to support our team with traffic management."
Writing online, shopper Kelle Revill said police had "blocked" the entrance to the car park.
She added: "I was there and they told everyone to turn around and go home despite having orders to collect.
"The roads were gridlocked so I'm not surprised.
"I ordered Saturday and it says mine's ready but I got there just as the police did and they turned us all around, so I don't know when I can pick mine up now as it says they only keep it for two days."
There was criticism from some online about how shopping at B&Q was not 'essential' - with Brits urged to keep trips from out of the home to an absolute minimum.
Helen Murray wrote: "People are saying about essential buying, but why so many that it's causing congestion?
"It looks to me that they are just ignoring social distancing and lockdown because it's a bank holiday."
Wendy Whiley posted: "How is DIY essential?
"I know it's something to do whilst locked away indoors and that, but food and medicine is essential — get real people!"
Speaking at Monday's Downing Street press conference, Dominic Raab praised the public for staying at home over the Easter weekend, and added: "Our plan is working.
"Please stick with it, and we'll get through this crisis together."
Details of how the lockdown will eventually be lifted remain unclear, however, with the Government repeatedly refusing to outline its "exit strategy".
Scientists advising the Government are expected to meet this week to review the latest figures, but Mr Raab insisted it was crucial that "we do not take our eye off the ball" with regards to social distancing.
