Hundreds of people were pictured gathering outside Harrods in London’s West End on Saturday, with some onlookers complaining that they were not wearing masks or social distancing.

Police said four people were arrested as a large crowd tried to enter the famous department store.

The Metropolitan Police said it had been called to the shop on Brompton Road at around 1pm to “reports of a large group of people attempting to enter a shop”.

“Four males were arrested in total – two for affray, one for breach of Covid regulations, and another for a public order offence and breach of Covid regulations,” the force said.

However, police were present as hundreds of people again gathered outside the Knightsbridge store later in the day.

Harrods did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A Harrods employee, who asked not to be named, told MyLondon : “Too many people were in the shop at the same time as everyone was eager to get out for the Christmas rush.

“Police were called to move people away and in the crowd people were throwing coffee around.”

They said one employee was pushed for telling a woman to wear a mask and someone else was pushed to the ground.

In scenes resembling New Year’s Eve celebrations, some people could be seen dancing to buskers on London’s Oxford Street while holding alcoholic drinks.

Similar images showed large numbers of people gathering at Covent Garden, while crowds were also seen at a Christmas market in Nottingham which prompted criticism from local residents.

After pictures appeared to show some people closely packed together, one Twitter user wrote: “Where was the hands face space in Nottingham Christmas Market yesterday?

Another wrote: “Armed police were present to protect the crowd from a terrorist attack. But no-one is protecting Nottingham hospitals from an increase of Covid patients. Please get this event closed down.”

The Mellors Group, which organised the market, said it had decided to temporarily shut the event on Sunday “in light of the unprecedented high footfall seen up and down the country for retail nationally”.

It said in a statement: “The pent-up demand for a city-centre offer was far higher than normal and we feel this is the most appropriate way forward.

“This will allow us to monitor footfall in the city-centre today and ensure that our activities support residents and local businesses in an appropriate fashion.”