Michael Gove was seen wearing a face mask when buying takeaway food on Tuesday, after being photographed not wearing one the previous week.

The government has been accused of mixed messaging over where people will have to wear face coverings when new rules come into force. They will be compulsory in shops in England from Friday - but full guidance is yet to be published.

Trade bodies and opposition MPs said confusion remained over takeaways. Minister Brandon Lewis said face coverings would be mandatory when purchasing takeaway food and drink, but not if you are eating at the premises.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "If a shop or supermarket has a cafe or a seating area to eat and drink, you can remove your face covering in that area."

However, Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, said this contradicted what the industry had previously been told by the government and it was "very late in the day" for this to be confirmed.

The new regulations will only be published on Thursday, less than 24 hours before they come into effect.

Full guidance on wearing face coverings in shops in England has been released, less than 12 hours before the new rules come into force.

Coverings will be mandatory in enclosed public spaces including supermarkets, indoor shopping centres, transport hubs, banks and post offices.

As it will be mandatory for us to wear face masks when in a shop, we bought 5 (non renewable) today: 4 for Marge and 1 for me, as I intend to keep wearing the same one repeatedly on the grounds that I feel they are not necessary!

Hi

France are taking them seriously, you have to wear a 3 ply mask not a fabric one.

They’ll have all your spittle and any nasal discharge on them tho

There is a town here that are giving face masks out to all their customers who don't have one on. If they refuse to wear it they are banned from the shop involved & other shops to, if they persist in refusing. Such a good idea.

Perhaps they should hang this on their shop doors?