Lancashire is ready to hit the shops ... again!

Thousands more stores in England are getting ready to welcome shoppers on Monday for the first time since March.

And business leaders in Lancashire are urging the public to “please shop local” to help the high street spring back to life and to support the retailers who have been hardest hit through the coronavirus crisis.

With the Government relaxing its restrictions on non-essential stores, shops selling merchandise like clothes, books, toys, electronics and records will be able to open their doors again, as long as they are Covid-secure for shoppers and staff alike.

Indoor markets will be able to resume trading, although “essential” food stalls in centres like Preston’s market hall have managed to stay open throughout the lockdown. But hairdressers, pubs, cafes, hotels, cinemas and places of worship will have to wait a little long - until July 4 at the earliest.

The message from Preston’s Business Improvement District (BID) is: “If there was ever a time to shop local and support these businesses, it’s now.”

Yet shoppers are being warned they face major changes to their retail experience from Monday due to socially-distanced shopping, with queues outside stores, limits on the numbers allowed in at any one time and markers on sales floors to ensure people stay two metres apart.

Clothing stores are unlikely to have fitting rooms open and all garments handled by customers will be quarantined for up to 72 hours before they can be put out again on stock rails.

Many retailers will be advising people to shop alone.

There will be restrictions on the use of escalators and lifts in stores and staff at the tills will be protected by perspex screens.

Preston BID represents more than 800 businesses in the city centre. Manager Mark Whittle said: “We are really pleased that more retailers will open from Monday. Businesses have been working hard on their preparations to keep customer and staff safe for some time.

“Preston’s high street has never been closed for this long in its history. There is a huge appetite to return to some form of normality – but done safely, effectively and in line with guidance. Businesses, of all sizes, contribute hugely to local life and the local economy, there is no doubt now that they will require our support more than ever.

“Shoppers have said they want to feel safe and secure when returning to town and city centres, which is understandable. We’ve all got our part to play in making sure that Preston meets their expectations."

Free face masks will be available at the BID’s unit on the Flag Market from Monday. They will also be increasing the number of sanitising stations around town.

Behind the scenes Preston has upped its power-washing programme and will be introducing a disinfecting spraying cycle for pavements and street furniture from Sunday.

The British Retail Consortium estimates lockdown is costing non-essential retailers £1.8bn a week in lost sales.

And experts say it will take some time for the high street to recover, with many shoppers reluctant to return. An estimated one in five shops are not expected to reopen and as many as 20,000 will close by the end of the year.