The threat of the potential further spread of coronavirus does not appear to have put people off going to Sheerness High Street.

As non-essential shops started to reopen today for the first time since lockdown began three months ago, the town was busy with people struggling to make room for each other on pavements.

Shop owners say it will be a slow process to get things back to the way they were, but they seem to be improving.

Social distancing measures are in place, hand sanitiser stations and screens have been installed, and some stores have one-way systems in place.

Sue Probert, manager of Daisy Chains Florists in Sheerness High Street, said it would take time for things to get back to normal.

"I think people are still being very cautious," she said.

"Today is the first we have opened since lockdown was brought in.

"We only have one staff member in at a time working with me so that we can keep the right distance between us.

"We’ve had to rearrange the shop to make it all one-way, we’ve got sanitiser around and we’re cleaning our sample books as people pick them up.

"We’ve got the two metres distance in the shop and Perspex screen near the till. It’s all new and unusual times for everyone."

Gemini jewellers, in the High Street, has been offering its pawnbroking service throughout the pandemic, but now it's able to serve all customers.

Owner Tony Mankelow said: "If people want to try items on, I clean them before and after they have been used.

"Anyone who wants their batteries or watch straps changed, we ask them to wait a couple of days so the bugs have a chance to die out.

"At the moment, we’re only letting two people in the shop at a time so we can keep a two metre distance at all times."

He added: "I’d like to see people use the small towns first to get their confidence back up and then go back to shopping centres when they feel they’re ready.

"It’s easier for people to come to the High Street because they don’t have to bother with one-way systems like you would have to follow at a shopping centre.”

Meanwhile, Swale council has put signs and banners up along the High Street reminding people to keep apart and stay safe while shopping.

A cordon has also been placed around parking machines in the hope it will prompt people to keep back while waiting for them to come available.

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