Visiting the shops never felt so good

HUGE queues filled the pavements as shoppers hit Britain’s high streets for the first time in three months.

Bargain-hunters waited patiently for hours in socially distanced lines to bag thousands of discounted goods. Many declared: “It’s good to be back”. Plasterer Ricky Young, 38, said: “The doors are open again, it’s back to almost normal, back to business – but we just have to line up.”

And while the vast majority stuck to new rules on social distancing and hand sanitiser, there were a few who ignored pleas in a desperate bid to bag the best bargains on offer.

Crucial

At Nike Town in London’s Oxford Street security guards were on hand as groups of teens tried to push to the front to snap up some designer trainers.

The long-awaited reopening “marks a crucial time for thousands of retailers and hundreds of thousands of jobs”, the British Retail Consortium said.

Shops were asked to make themselves “Covid-secure” with many having protective Perspex screens at checkouts. Customers were also unable to use the fitting rooms.

A shopper who emerged from Birmingham’s Primark store clutching three bags said: “It’s good to be back – it seems like forever since I’ve been in a clothes shop.”

The Government’s bid to get back to business seemed to be working as footfall in England’s high streets was up by 51.7% retail experts Springboard said.

And business across high streets, shopping centres and retail parks was up 41.7% compared to last week.