High street fashion chain Matalan has reopened a dozen UK stores to the public, trading as normal with social distancing in place to protect staff and shoppers.
The chain, which is classed as an 'essential' retailer due to its home section, said 12 stores will reopen this week after the Government announced homeware stores are now classed as crucial retailers.
In a statement to customers, Matalan said the first to open will be those in "out of town retail parks", though branches in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will remain closed.
Where branches will reopen, staff have been taken off furlough in line with a change in Government guidelines on May 1. "Following our decision to close our stores almost eight weeks ago we’ve been working