Blueprints for the armed forces to assist the civilian authorities, usually used only in civil emergencies, have been dusted down as part of the "no deal" planning.

Helicopters and army trucks would be used to ferry supplies to vulnerable people outside the southeast who were struggling to obtain the medicines they needed.

In today's Business section, it is revealed that supermarkets are warning their suppliers to stockpile supplies such as tea and coffee.

The NHS would go on a year-round "winter crisis footing", with drugs bought from outside the EU and stockpiled in hospitals.