DIY giant B&Q is to reopen 14 of its warehouses across the UK three weeks after they were closed at the start of lockdown.
Two branches have reopened on Saturday morning - at Paisley and West Thurrock - with a dozen more to open in the days ahead.
Some stores have been offering click and collect, but will now be fully reopened allowing locked down homeowners to get their DIY and gardening essentials.
Click&Collect will no longer be available at the two stores which have already opened, instead the branches will be open to customers from 8am to 5pm, reports the Daily Star.
A B&Q spokesperson said: "Similar to shopping at a supermarket, we’ve introduced social distancing controls at these re-opened stores.
"We’re strictly limiting the number of customers in store at any one time, and so customers may need to queue before entering the store.
"To help remind everyone to respect each other’s personal space, we have two metre floor markers throughout these stores and also perspex screens at the checkouts."
Services such as kitchen and bathroom design, paint mixing, timber cutting and key cutting are not available.
The spokesperson added: "We’re urging all customers to follow the government’s social distancing guidelines and to shop responsibly only for what is necessary."
The stores set to open are:
- Culverhouse Cross in Cardiff
- Chester
- Brandon Road in Coventry
- Fareham
- Gillingham
- Ipswich
- Nursling
- Plymouth
- Stockport
- Sutton in Ashfield
- Watford
- Hull Road in York
A B&Q spokesperson added: "These additional 12 stores are not currently offering Click&Collect as they are being prepared for opening, to offer the best possible service while still maintaining social distancing for colleagues and customers.
"They will open once the preparations are complete."
