The military would be called in if blockages at ports led to shortages of food, fuel and medicines

Ministers have drawn up plans to send in the army to deliver food, medicines and fuel in the event of shortages if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal.

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.

Helicopters would be used to ferry supplies to vulnerable people

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