Deptford market was a shadow of its normal self this afternoon, as nearly all vendors stayed at home following the national lockdown.

The historic market, which has sold fruit, vegetables and second hand goods for more than 100 years, normally packs out the high street on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 7am until 4pm.

Despite the Government's ongoing delay in unveiling comprehensive measures of financial support for the self-employed, the large majority of sellers abided by the latest advice.

Peers today piled further pressure on the Government to come up with a package of assistance.

Ministers faced cross-party calls in the Lords to replicate the support scheme announced last week for those in employment.

Liberal Democrat Lord Clement-Jones said five million self-employed freelancers feel "overlooked".

Calling for a statutory self-employment pay scheme, Lord Clement-Jones said they are under "real stress" from the impact of the pandemic on their work.

He said "rather confused" messages from the Government about when they should go to work are not helping.

While people understand that there are "complications" in setting up a scheme, the Government must move fast because in many cases people are "simply running out of money".

Chancellor Rishi Sunak told MPs yesterday it is "incredibly complicated" to design a system to support the self-employed but insisted that intensive work is going on in Whitehall.

He said ministers are "in dialogue with all the key stakeholder groups".

Unite union boss Len McCluskey said: "The millions of self-employed and insecure workers across the country will dread being sent home because it means that they will have no wage.

"The Government must work with trade unions to define the tougher isolation rules because we understand the reality of the workplace."