Poundland to reopen 26 more stores

Poundland to reopen 26 more stores - the full list as coronavirus lockdown is eased

Poundland has announced plans to open a further 26 stores across the UK as lockdown measures are slowly eased.

The discount retailer said trading will resume again this week after 51 shops reopened earlier this month.

Poundland said that while it had kept most of its stores open for essential shopping, around 100 were temporarily shut in March.

The closed shops were largely where there was another Poundland nearby or where shopping centres found it difficult to remain open, it added.

Managing director Barry Williams said: "As an essential retailer, we've continued to support customers in hundreds of towns - especially those who manage their budgets week-to-week and find it difficult to bulk buy.

A total of 77 stores are now back in business (David Haber/scunthorpelive)

"And our store colleagues have done much more than their day job. They've also played a vital role, delivering care packages to other frontline workers and those in need in their communities.

"But even though we've kept serving customers, we know we're at our best as part of a vibrant thriving high street and that's why we're looking forward to our neighbours reopening in the coming weeks.

"Healthy town centres are the lifeblood of our economy and our communities.

"It may have been tough for many retailers before this crisis and it's more important than ever that we make sure we encourage customers to say hi to their high streets as we return to business-as-unusual."

Poundland said it was working closely with shopping centre landlords to reopen the last of its closed stores as soon as possible.

The reopened stores will have "robust" health and safety measures in place like all the stores that have remained open, it added.

These include door marshals, floor markers to help maintain social distancing, perspex screens at checkouts and no self-checkouts.

Poundland also said that staff will be expected to wash their hands every 20 minutes and key surfaces will be wiped down every hour.