Sunday trading laws could be suspended for a year under Government plans to stimulate the economy amid the coronavirus crisis, writes Harriet Line, PA deputy political editor.

Downing Street is said to be drawing up legislation to enable larger supermarkets to open for more than six hours on Sundays, according to The Times.

The paper also said cafes and pubs would be given fast-track approval to serve food and drink outside, doing away with the need for the 28-day minimum statutory consultation period.

Former prime minister David Cameron was previously forced to drop plans to extend Sunday trading hours in 2016 after suffering a humiliating Commons defeat, which saw 27 Tories joining forces with opposition parties.

The latest attempt comes amid fears over the coronavirus reproduction rate in parts of England, as new data suggested the R value is now around 1.00 in the South West and North West.

The value used by the Government remains between 0.7 and 0.9 for the UK as a whole, though the figure has a two to three-week lag, meaning it does not account for the latest easing of the lockdown.

But a separate report from Public Health England (PHE) and Cambridge University, which estimates what the value is currently, put the North West on 1.01 and the South West on 1.00.

Read more: South West lockdown possible as 'R number reaches 1'

If R is one or higher, the virus will spread exponentially through the population. An R number of less than one indicates the virus is in decline.

PHE estimated there are 17,000 new infections each day in England, with a range being at between 11,000 and 25,000.

But Office for National Statistics data put the new cases at 5,600 daily, down from around 8,000 a week ago.

Mr Hancock announced in yesterday's daily briefing that all hospital visitors and outpatients in England will be required to wear face coverings from June 15, while all hospital staff will need to wear surgical masks.

He said the Government wanted to ensure that "even as the virus comes under control" hospitals are a place of "care and of safety".

Face coverings will also be compulsory on public transport in England from June 15.