Atherstone great-grandad Mick Latham: What I love best about the reopening of Dobbies garden centre

SHIELDING 77-YEAR-OLD DOESN'T NEED HIS 'SHOPPING FOR NECESSITIES' GET-OUT-OF-LOCKDOWN-JAIL CARD TO VISIT HIS FAVOURITE STORE NOW

RETIRED Atherstone digger driver Mick Latham took a trip to Queue Gardens today to reacquaint himself with his favourite store-within-a-store at Dobbies.

The 77-year-old, like millions of over 70s, was among the groups asked by the Prime Minister in March to stay at home for 12 weeks and observe strict social distancing to ensure they were 'largely shielded from contact'.

Self-isolation has been tough on Mr Latham, a father of five children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-great grandkids.

But Wednesday's opening of garden centres after a hiatus of 50 days – seen as the first shoots of easing up on coronavirus restrictions – brought an added bonus for the ex-Chorley Plant Hire worker.

Before Covid-19, he used to pay a regular weekly call on a Saturday to the giant retail outlet in Nuneaton Road, Mancetter.

While he likes its plants, what he loves more is heading straight for Trotter's Butcher's Shop to be tempted by the delights of pigs' feet, sausages and his favourite pies.

So on Friday he didn't have to use his 'shopping for necessities' get-out-of-lockdown-jail card to visit the retailer.

And having braved the snaking queues at the store entrance and before heading for his vehicle in the heaving car park, he told Nub News how he felt about the reopening : "I've really missed Dobbies these past weeks .

"It was part of my weekly routine – and those pies, they were something else."

Dobbies has been besieged since it opened its doors again.

But store bosses are determined safety of workers and customers is the number one priority with social distancing measures brought in to coincide with start-up.

And Nubs News reckons the store has it spot on.

Limited numbers of customers are being permitted in the store – 60 inside at any one time – and there is a well-marshalled queuing system in operation outside, with two-metre markers in place to help maintain social distancing.

Protective Perspex screens have been installed at tills and customers are being asked to pay with card or contactless.

Duty manager Geraldine McKenzie explained that customers approaching the tills have to place their trolleys by the checkouts and then step back two metres while assistants scan the items. Customers then pay by card and collect their trolley without any need to encroach on the staff behind the screens.

The Cross Lane Farm store – open between 9am and 5pm – is very busy between 11am and 1pm. To contact Dobbies, call 01827 71551.