Excited shoppers returned to the Folkestone district's town centres today - following the opening of some non-essential shops.

In Folkestone's Bouverie Place, people queued patiently outside stores including TK Maxx and Primark- which proved the most popular - as staff ushered them in one at a time.

A one way system was installed in the shopping centre, which also saw the return of Cards Direct, Choice, J.D Sports, Deichmann and Sports Direct.

Members of staff were seen wearing masks, as were some customers.

In the high street, manageable queues lined up outside the Post Office and WHSmith before they opened at 9am.

The Works, Superdrug, Poundstretcher and Boots were also open, with a steady flow of shoppers.

At Grind n Bake coffee shop and bakery - which re-opened today for the first time since lockdown was introduced - potential customers were told to sanitise their hands before entering and could only pay with card.

A one way system was also in place at the bakery and all food had to be consumed off the premises.

Although not heaving, the town was certainly reminiscent of pre-lockdown days. And it was much quieter towards the other end of town in Guildhall Street and Rendezvous Street.

Anne, from Folkestone, had gone into the town centre to visit Cards Direct. She said: “I wanted to stock up.”

She said the town wasn’t as busy as she thought it was going to be: “It was definitely the right time to reopen the shops, for the sake of the economy.”

Another shopper said she felt like people wanted to get out the house.

Sisters Amber and Victoria queued for Primark. They said: “We need to get baby clothes. They are selling out online. It’s about as busy as we expected.”

Folkestone’s town centre market has also returned after more than 10 weeks of absence.

Market manager Paul Clark explained: “We opened again with four stalls on Saturday, just to try it out. We were spaced further apart than normal.

“It went well; I was quite impressed. People were respecting that they had to stand apart.

“We had a great response too from customers, people said they had missed us.”

The market is open every Saturday and Thursday.

In Hythe, shops such Eldridges, Posh Potions and Henry's Wine Bar & Chocolate Cafe welcomed back customers.

The biggest line formed outside J C Rook and Sons.

Hythe Town Council has also approved a plan to extend the pedestrianisation of part of the High Street and Bank Street to ensure social distancing can be applied.

Usually shut off to cars between 11am and 3pm, the roads are now pedestrian only 10am-4pm Monday through to Saturday.

The changes will come into effect on Friday, June 19.

In total, 11 high streets across the district welcomed back shoppers. As well as Folkestone and Hythe, the others included Sandgate, Cheriton, Dymchurch, New Romney, Lydd, Hawkinge, Lyminge, Sellindge and Elham.

Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) has announced a series of measures to support all the high streets in order to make sure social distancing and hygiene methods are being adopted by traders.

It comes after the council received £100,000 of European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) for the delivery of safe high streets and commercial areas.

The measures include a new business recovery tool kit with information and advice for retailers including guidance on risk assessments, signage at entry and exit points to high streets and an enhanced cleaning programme.

The authority will also monitor pedestrian flow and intervene as needed, and will consider some street closures to allow for deliveries.

'A boards' are also to be removed outside shops to allow additional space for social distancing.

Cllr David Wimble, cabinet member for the district economy said: "Shopper safety is of the utmost importance as lockdown eases and we rebuild confidence in using our high streets.

"The measures that we have put into place are just part of collaborative effort by businesses, organisations and individuals across the district to reopen shops and move towards recovery.

"Everyone has a duty to behave responsibly, protect themselves and others.

"We recognise that this is an ever-changing situation and the need for the measures we adopt to be agile.

"We will monitor, review and adapt our plans to ensure we can keep shops open and people safe."

FHDC leader Cllr David Monk added: "We've seen great innovation and resilience in the way the district's traders have adapted in the past weeks.

"Lockdown has also highlighted the importance of local producers to the communities we live in.

"We are fortunate to have many independent traders in the district and this will be something that distinguishes our high streets.

"As lockdown eases and we enter a new stage, we are committed to working together to stimulate the local economy and attract people back into our high streets."

FHDC has also announced that all its public toilets across the district have now re-opened.

Facilities will be accessible daily between 10am and 6pm, although they may be open earlier and closed later depending on when the team arrives on site.

To see how other towns across Kent coped today, visit here

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh