Payment providers across the UK have upped their contactless payment limits from £30 to £45 in an effort to help customers cut down on cash usage. 

From 1 April, contactless limits will be increased to prevent customers having to touch cash or chip-and-pin machines as often. 

Barclaycard, which oversees nearly half of the UK's credit and debit card transactions, said it was prioritising rolling the higher limit out to food shops, bakeries, pharmacies and petrol stations. 

Rob Cameron, chief executive of Barclaycard Payments, said: 'It's more important than ever for merchants and their customers to be mindful of their collective health and safety.'

Mark Barnett, Mastercard's UK president, said: 'We fully support the increased contactless limit here in the UK and across Europe, cardholders and shopkeepers will soon be able to make and receive more of their purchases both quickly and securely, and without the need to enter a Pin.