MANY non-essential retailers opened their doors to the public on Monday, in the latest ease of lockdown measures.

Shops across Gillingham, Shaftesbury and the Blackmore Vale have been welcoming both new and returning customers to their businesses this week, with social distancing and safety measures in effect.

Dorset Council has been working with town and parish councils across the county to ensure these safety measures are in place.

Gillingham Town Council is encouraging residents to “Shop local, stay local”, to support businesses that may have suffered during the pandemic through temporary closure, furloughed staff and lack of trade.

Barry von Clemens, mayor of Gillingham, who was out visiting businesses on Tuesday, said: “Everyone has given a positive picture of how things have been going since they reopened [on Monday] with many reporting good footfall.

“A majority of the shops who were able to open here have now opened and the remaining few we are expecting to open in the coming weeks and months.

“A number of local people also took the opportunity to have a chat as I walked along the high street saying how glad they are to see the high street starting to open up. It really was a heartwarming afternoon.”

Councillor von Clemens added: “The main message that I would like to give is now is the time to give our local businesses the support that they need to rebuild their business.

"The mantra that I feel we should all be thinking is ‘Shop local Stay local’.”