The National Pharmacy Association has revealed more than half of the community pharmacies that took part in its snap poll on the riots said they felt unsafe while some claimed they were subjected to racist abuse.

Of the 350 pharmacies that took part in the survey, one in three said they considered closing because of concerns over the safety of staff and patients and 13 per cent faced racist comments as rioters attacked homes and businesses in towns and cities across England and in Belfast.

The NPA said over 40 per cent of pharmacists are from a South Asian heritage, black or another ethnic minority and "it is thought the majority of independent community pharmacy owners are of South Asian heritage."

Its chief executive Paul Rees said people working in community pharmacy, especially “those who are of South Asian heritage, black or from other ethnic minorities,” have had a “tough” last few days.

“We should not expect community pharmacy teams, under any circumstances, to accept being subjected to intimidation, harassment, racism or Islamaphobic abuse,” he said.

The health secretary Wes Streeting said intimidation and racist abuse of NHS staff “or staff in any health or care setting” would not be tolerated and perpetrators “should be turned away.”

Echoing Streeting’s sentiments, Rees said pharmacies should “take a zero tolerance approach towards patients who behave in this way” and turn away anyone who is “being abusive, racist or Islamophobic and contact the police.”

Rees, who said he will attend a Stand Up To Racism event in Oxford tomorrow, added: “Pharmacies are the heart of their communities and as the front door of the NHS have been particularly vulnerable to a rise in violence and intimidation in the last few weeks.

“We are immensely proud of the diversity of pharmacy contractors and their teams and are doing all we can to support them at this time.”