Pubs will miss out on sales of 10 million extra pints of beer over the bank holiday weekend because of the continued lockdown, it has been estimated.

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) said pubs would have been packed on a normal late May Bank Holiday, with good weather forecast, and the FA Cup final usually held on the Saturday.

The trade body noted that pubs were the first businesses to be ordered to shut down by the Government in March and could be among the last to re-open.

The BBPA said not all pubs will reopen from July as many won't be able to meet the social distancing measures required by then.

Ensuring a distance of two metres will be impossible for some pubs, keeping them closed for much longer, said the BBPA.

Chief executive Emma McClarkin said: "This bank holiday weekend would usually bring a much-needed boost to our sector - as many as 10 million extra pints could have been sold in pubs.

"With such good weather, Brits would normally flock to their local pub beer garden to make the most of the sunshine.

"The FA Cup final, which would have taken place this weekend, would have boosted pub beer sales by two million pints on Saturday alone.

"Those pubs with beer gardens and outside terraces are best placed to meet social distancing restrictions to open from July 4.

"We welcome the idea of an additional bank holiday in October and support any Government help to boost the speed of recovery of pubs and breweries."