Working hard to provide essential local services...

AS the country prepares to ease itself out of nine weeks of full lockdown a number of local businesses have been working hard to provide essential services to the public throughout the ongoing crisis. Businesses have had to quickly make changes and adapt their businesses so that they can continue to provide much needed supplies.

Supermarket and post office staff have been working hard throughout the lockdown, coping with a huge increase in demand while also striving to observe the necessary social distancing rules.

Business owners, meanwhile, have found themselves having to make changes to continue provide services, whether this means erecting perspect windows to protect staff members, providing delivery services or taking their business online. From local corner shops to supermarkets, takeaway food to petrol garages, owners and staff have gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure they can continue to provide the best possible service to the public.

The past number of weeks has seen everyone in the community adapt to a new way of living and, where once, we took eating out, doing the weekly shop and treating ourselves to some new clothes or coffee and cake, these days people have had to adjust to what has become the new normal.

However, throughout the north east local businesses have been quick to adapt, helping to ensure we can still avail of their goods and services in a safe and socially distant manner.