HRP Trade owner Neil Lake said a letter announcing the launch of the temporary website had been circulated to the company’s independent merchant customer base, up to 50 per cent of whom have had to close their doors due to the current crisis.

The letter said: “As the nation enters an uncertain period of potential total lockdown, HRP Trade has been working day and night to develop a temporary website that allows your customers to order spare parts for emergency breakdowns without the need for you to remain open.”

Merchants will benefit too, as for every order placed, installers would input the merchant’s postcode. This would then allow the merchant to receive a 10 per cent commission payment paid monthly. Installers will not be able to complete an order without adding a genuine trade merchant postcode.

Mr Lake said: “We hope our independent merchant customer base will share this message with under pressure installer customers.”