Lidl joins four major supermarkets in vegetable rationing as shortages leave shelves empty

The current rationing applies to broccoli, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, pepper, salad bags, raspberries and cauliflower.

All 935 Lidl stores across the UK are thought to be affected by the new rules.

The budget retailer stated that approximately two-thirds of its products sold in the UK are sourced from British suppliers, though it does rely on imports from across Europe.

Food minister Mark Spencer has summoned supermarket chiefs to explain “what they are doing to get shelves stocked again”, adding that the nation should “give thanks” to the tens of thousands of farmers and producers “keeping us fed”.