Despite a surge in grocery sales, overall retail sales plunged 5.1% month on month in March, exacerbated by a 34.8% plummet in clothing sales.

The ONS attributed the sharp decline to the government ordering non-essential store closures on March 23.

Food and online sales were the category to register growth during the period, with grocery sales registering the strongest growth of 10.4%. Online sales accounted for a record 22.3% of overall retail sales in the month as shoppers flocked online amid store closures.