In pictures: East Kilbride shopping centre a ghost town on usual Boxing Day sales spree

There was a very different scene to the Boxing Day sales at EK, East Kilbride this year, with very few people stirring at the shopping centre.

Pictures shared with us by local, Imran Nawaz, show the popular centre all but empty as Scotland’s national tier 4 coronavirus restrictions took place.

Boxing Day would normally see shoppers flock to the centre for the festive sales but instead it was empty (Imran Nawaz)

Usually expected to be brimming with activity because of the annual sales, there was hardly a soul to be seen, with few shops opening for trade.

Imran said: “This was Boxing Day lunchtime in East Kilbride.

“Hopefully this is a one off and next year it will be back to normal.”

The retail sector has been hit hard although essential stores in the centre remain open (Imran Nawaz)

A second strain of coronavirus has seen the number of those contracting the disease rise in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The deserted shopping centre on what would normally be a busy time of year for retailers (Imran Nawaz)

In attempt to buck the trend and get ahead of the second strain, the Scottish Government moved the country back into a lockdown state, significantly limiting what is allowed.

The centre was a ghost town (Imran Nawaz)

A spokesman for the centre said: “2020 has been an incredibly difficult year for businesses across the country, including the retail and hospitality industries, with the latest tier 4 restrictions showing just how challenging the situation remains.

“The current restrictions, which came in on Boxing Day, are expected to last for three weeks and during this time EK, East Kilbride will remain open to serve the community, with access to essential stores and services, click and collect and takeaway.”