WH Smith's boss is hoping to persuade the Government his Swindon-based stationery firm is an "essential retailer" - meaning it could get around lockdown rules closing the bulk of UK stores.

According to reports by The Guardian, chief executive Carl Cowling wrote to employees last week. 

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He said: “In our high street stores, we have a retail offer that extends to every generation. We can provide essential products to our younger pre-school customers; an unrivalled education officer with accompanying stationery range to children, teenagers and students; a fantastic books offer for everyone; and a news and magazines offer that can’t be beaten, enabling communities to access information and keep up to date with what is happening at the current time.”

The company was "positioning ourselves to Government as an essential retailer".