Retailers across Greater Manchester opened their doors this morning for the first time since the start of lockdown in March.
Virtually all shops reopened at retail park Crown Point in Denton, which houses brands from JD Sports to Boots.
A number of shoppers flocked to the popular complex forming large queues outside certain stores as they awaited to get inside.
MEN reporter Chris Slater is still at the scene where he said people have gathered mostly to get into Sports Direct/USC.
The Sports Direct queue stretches about a third of the way round the shopping centre, and its popularity is being put down to offering a 50 percent discount for NHS staff.
There are two-metre social distancing markers on the floor in some areas of the retail park, and they can be seen on benches to remind visitors to remain apart.
A large queue can also be seen outside of TK Maxx, which stretches across one side of the shopping centre.
Bollards have been decorated with the message: "It's lovely to have you back".
Although some customers were seen wearing face coverings, unlike travelling on public transport, it's not a mandatory rule for those shopping.
With official figures released last week showing the UK economy shrank by a fifth in April, ministers are desperate to get businesses going again to avoid another wave of job losses.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he did not know whether to expect “a flood or a trickle” when the shops reopened but that he hoped people would return in “sensible” numbers.
On Sunday, Mr Johnson visited Westfield shopping centre in east London, where he acknowledged some people may be nervous about returning to the high street after so long away but insisted they “should shop and shop with confidence”.
Get your business listed as OPEN on In Your Area for free - click here
