FEEDBACK FROM SHOPPERS PLAYED PART IN BRINGING BACK PRE-CORONAVIRUS OPENING TIMES

'WE HAVE ALL HAD TO CHANGE THE WAY WITH SHOP TO KEEP OUR COLLEAGUES AND CUSTOMERS SAFE'

ATHERSTONE'S biggest retailer is bringing back pre-coronavirus opening hours in its stores after "listening" to customers.

Shorter opening times at local Co-op stores were introduced in March to give staff more time to replenish shelves with food and essentials for the local community.

But today's announcement, signalling a "return to normal", follows feedback from members and shoppers who are becoming more accustomed to visiting stores during these uncertain times.

Now, with extensive social distancing measures in place across all stores, the retailer is taking the opportunity to bring back 9pm finishes at the Station Street and Long Street shops.

Central England Co-op retail director Paul Dennis told Nub News: "I would like to thank our members and customers for their support during these uncertain times.

"We have all had to change the way we shop to keep our colleagues and customers safe and we continue to monitor and update what we are doing in our stores to ensure this remains the case.

"With that in mind we have listened to the feedback of our customers and this is why we are returning the opening hours of our stores to normal.

"Our supply lines have been great during the coronavirus pandemic and our shelves stocked with all the food and essentials our communities need.

"Thank you to our customers once again for their continued support and also to our hardworking colleagues who continue to go above and beyond."

Customers can find out up-to-date opening times for their local store by visiting https://stores.centralengland.coop/

The retailer has already rolled out a range of other measures in stores aimed at keeping customers and colleagues safe including social distancing, gloves and hand sanitiser, over 1,000 checkout screens, 7,000 face visors for colleagues and over 150 security guards to help with queues.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has warned people breaching the coronavirus lockdown over Spring bank holiday weekend could drag Britain back to "square one".

He said those who continue to ignore restrictions over the three-day break risk returning the UK back weeks as he pleaded to be sensible – despite forecast of temperatures in the mid-70s Fahrenheit.

Last month store manager in Atherstone joined nationwide pleas for people to "stay home unless absolutely necessary" and not be tempted by the Easter sunshine to break Covid-19 lockdown measures.