Face masks for shoppers in Spalding, Holbeach, Long Sutton and surrounding areas: How will the new rule be enforced?

Clearer rules are needed on how the mandatory wearing of face masks will be enforced, says a county spokesperson for small business owners.

Katrina Pierce, Lincolnshire development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses, says that there is confusion over how the new rule that face masks must be worn by shoppers will work.

Her comments come after the chair of the Police Federation said he wanted police officers to be the ‘very last resort’ when enforcing the wearing of face coverings in retail stores and supermarkets in England.

John Apter, National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: "We simply don’t have the resources, and this would fundamentally undermine the model of policing which is to police by consent."

Miss Pierce said: "Are small business owners being expected to tackle it if people do not wear a mask? That is a lot of extra hassle for them so we really need some clarity on what shop owners and people who work in shops are expected to do.

"There has been some concern by shoppers over how they look in a mask or that it could be intimidating to others to see them wearing them but it will now be the normality."

After the rule was announced on Tuesday (July 14) there were questions from shop owners in the area on whether masks would be mandatory for staff as well, as they had a number of hygiene measures already in place. Many are already wearing visors.

"The changes come in for the general public," Miss Pierce added. "But there has been some confusion. What we really could do with is funds from either the Government or local authority to provide delivery of masks for people who don't have them."