CUSTOMERS returned to Evesham’s high street on Saturday for the first weekend since non-essential shops, beer gardens, gyms and hairdressers re-opened after lockdown restrictions were eased.

Kirstie Climo welcomed back customers to her store Carva Clothing last Monday.

After a busy weekend, she said: “It’s been really busy so far but it has been very good.

“It was great to welcome customers back and the weather has helped, we’ve been very lucky with the weather and it’s brought everybody out, but people are still cautious and rightly so, but I think everybody is quite positive at the moment.”

Kirstie said it’s important to remain optimistic but cautious. “I had Covid myself in October last year, do I want it again? Absolutely not.

“It’s something that has to be taken seriously and I can understand why people are cautious.

“Most of my customers are probably on the same page as me in regards to doing all we can with the regulations and being sensible, and we now have to move forward and try and make the best of it.”

Graham Brown and Laura Penfold are the landlords of the Round of Gras in Bretforton.

After the reopening weekend, Laura said: “It was busier than we expected it to be because the weather was nice, but for us the new rule system can be a bit of a nightmare.

“People can come in and do track and trace and come in and pay, but they can’t carry their own drinks out.

“I don’t understand why pubs have such a strict rule system compared to the supermarkets and shops, but it was lovely to be able to see people - we’ve done takeaways all the way through, but obviously that’s all phone conversations and was very impersonal so it has been nice to ask people if they are enjoying their food again.”