The retailer’s parent company, Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group, said Sports Direct and its stablemate Evans Cycles offered vital products and services that would help people to “maintain a healthy lifestyle” while they are confined to their homes.

Prime minister Boris Johnson said in his address to the nation last night that all retailers selling non-essential products were to be closed for at least three weeks. People can leave their homes to shop for essential products, such as food, and to exercise once a day.

Frasers Group is attempting to secure classification as a retailer of essential products, but will close its stores to the public until it gets the green light from the government that it can open.