Wales has said it would review regulations and guidance after a public outcry at a ban on the sale of items deemed non-essential during the country's coronavirus lockdown, AFP reported.

All non-essential retailers were shut on Friday and supermarkets were told only to sell essential items to discourage people from spending more time than necessary in shops.

But the rule has proved highly unpopular, as details emerged of clothing, books and paper roped off or covered up. More than 65,000 people signed a petition calling the restrictions “disproportionate and cruel”, and for them to be reversed.

Another row blew up after one shopper complained on Twitter she had been unable to purchase female sanitary products after initially being told there were “not essential”.

Supermarket giant Tesco initially told the woman it had been “told by the Welsh Government not to sell” period products during the shutdown.

It then deleted the tweet and apologised for the error.