The pharmaceutical chain said it had hired 500 additional delivery drivers across the UK and has introduced prescription delivery to another 40 of its stores to meet the increased demand for the service because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Boots said a month ago it delivered an average of 90,000 prescriptions a week, which has increased to an estimated 150,000 as of last week.

The new drivers will join the retailer’s pharmacy delivery and collection team and will complement the 400 new delivery vehicles the group has added to its delivery fleet.