Hospitality businesses properly stockpiled beer, fresh food and supplies to keep them going during the busy and vital Christmas trading period

Commercial agency UK Hospitality has warned that millions of pounds of this food may be going to waste

Some pubs offered beer for 99 cents pounds, others donated the stock to their employees

Its chief executive, Kate Nicholls, said that "as with previous short-term blockages, this will cause a waste of food and drink," because hospitality businesses cannot "just turn it on and off.