LEADING politicians from Greater Manchester and the North West have called for more action to be taken against "non-essential" businesses remaining open during the coronavirus pandemic.

Concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of social distancing after "hundreds upon hundreds" of reports revealed employees are standing "back to back" while working in certain workplaces.

Warehouse staff say they are handling thousands of non-essential products each day with having little or no access to hand sanitiser, while having to put up with filthy toilets.

Some employers have been accused of "refusing to treat the situation with the seriousness it deserves" and putting the health of workers – and their families – at risk.

Under current government guidelines, businesses are only required to ensure a two-metre distance between employees "where possible".

It is this "lack of clarity" that is being challenged by the metro mayors for Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region, Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram.

In a letter to Business Secretary Alok Sharma and Health Secretary Matt Hancock, the leaders argue that the guidance provides a "get-out clause" for those who are choosing not to follow the rules.

“In recent days, social media has been awash with stories and images from unsafe workplaces and we have received hundreds upon hundreds of reports from concerned employees and members of the public who are worried about business flouting Public Health England guidelines,” the letter says.

“Workers are worried that they are being forced to work in places where the two-metre self-distancing rule is not enforced, where there is a lack of hand sanitiser and cleaning and hygiene measures, and they then return home to an elderly mum or dad or their family, making them vulnerable to exposure to the virus.

“This is unacceptable. We need the government to act to remove the ambiguity that the ‘where possible’ phrasing has introduced.

“Not only will this take away a lot of unnecessary worry for people scared about their loved ones getting sick, it will also reinforce the government’s own ‘Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives’ message by helping to stop the spread of the disease.”

Similar concerns have been raised in a separate letter written by Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd, Oldham West and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams and Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon.

They note "significant" issues with online retailer warehouses within their constituencies, and have asked the government to "clearly define" essential industries and to close businesses that are non-essential ‘as soon as possible’.

The letter says: “The government’s attempt to bring about lockdown still lags some way behind other European countries, where this type of activity has been forbidden.

“Local employers in the North West, make the point that if the government is urging these industries to remain open, then their competitors, overseas and domestic, will more than likely continue to trade, which in turn encourages them to follow suit.

“But companies have said if the government orders closure, they will abide.

“We understand that there is an economic question in all of this, but ultimately, this has to be a question of individual health and safety, and through that a collective health and safety issue in pandemic circumstances.”

The Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and Public Health England were approached for comment.