All of the island’s Costa Coffee shops have closed with immediate effect and will be donating their remaining stock.

The five stores (Douglas, Castletown and Ramsey) are operated under a franchise agreement and the operating company Fancy A Coffee Limited said it would be ’irresponsible’ to remain open in any form.

A statement from the company said: ’Following the announcements made by the Chief Minister yesterday relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, and in the interests of our staff and customers health and safety and the wider Island community, we have temporarily closed all our Costa Coffee stores on the island with immediate effect.

’Although the Chief Minister provided an opportunity to trade as a takeaway which we did from Friday March 20, continuing to trade in this format is irresponsible, given the measures announced today by government to protect the whole community.

’If closing our stores prevents a member of our staff or a customer from contact to contact transmission of Covid-19, in our view it is worth it.

’We will be removing stock from our stores to donate to the foodbank, various charities and front line services.’