An online petition urging the government to support the hospitality industry during the coronavirus outbreak has taken off

A petition urging the government to support the hospitality industry during the coronavirus outbreak has reached over 120,000 signatures at the time of publishing.

Due to the ongoing spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson advised the public to stop going to bars and restaurants on 16 March, but did not enforce a ban.

Businesses which were already getting quieter are now expected to be empty come this weekend, which should have seen St Patrick's Day and Mother's Day celebrations take place.

As the government has not banned going out, many local bars, restaurants and businesses won't be able to claim on their insurance for loss of earnings, and many have taken to social media to voice their concern.

Alex Claridge, chef and owner of The Wilderness - a fine dining restaurant in Birmingham - has taken things further and started a petition calling on the UK Government to support UK's hospitality industry through the Coronavirus crisis.