Queues for non-essential retail grow as police attempt to organise the chaos
Non-essential shops have reopened across England today, as lockdown restrictions continue to ease across the country.
Beer gardens, gyms and hairdressers are amongst other public spaces that have reopened today, following months of forced closure due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Pictures and videos taken outside of the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester city centre this morning show heaps of eager shoppers waiting to enter the shops.
Police officers were spotted assisting with the long queues ahead of the reopening of the shopping centre, the Manchester Evening News reported.
Police too. We're almost looking at social distancing again now, what a treat @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/wdVf867m5k
— Daisy Jackson (@daisyejackson) April 12, 2021
Speaking to the M.E.N, One shopper who was waiting outside Primark in Manchester from 6.45am, said: “It makes you feel like things are finally getting back to normal.”
Another Primark shopper from Middleton told the M.E.N: “Everyone has been stuck indoors at home for so long, this is a chance to get out. I was expecting bigger queues actually.”
Similar scenes have occurred right across the country, as Brits have been able to hit their favourite High Street shops after months of online shopping.
Two eager shoppers, Ella Taslaman and her sister, Sienna, set their alarms for 5.30am this morning in order to queue for the Primark store in Croydon, south London, the Mirror reported.
“It’s a bit embarrassing but we were in the queue at 6.30am, Ella told the Mirror, as she was leaving the store.
“But it’s great to be out shopping again and seeing other people after so long. It was worth the early start,” she added.
The reopening of non-essential retail, gyms and pub gardens comes as the Prime Minister Boris Johnson urges the public to “behave responsibly” amid the easing of restrictions.
