Truck drivers entering Britain from continental Europe are likely to need to take a Covid-19 test under plans being discussed by the government to contain coronavirus variants, Reuters quoted an industry source as saying on Friday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested earlier this week that Britain might need to tighten restrictions on arrivals from France, including truck drivers, to defend against new variants that are spreading as part of Europe’s third wave of the pandemic.

A similar move by France in December caused chaos in southern England when it was introduced at short notice but the industry believes there is now enough rapid testing available for it not to cause too much of an impact, the source said.

Drivers would be tested at sites around Britain.