DIY enthusiasts keen to carry out home improvements rushed to Stoke-on-Trent's newly-reopened B&Q store today.
Photos show long queues both inside and outside the store, as well as dozens of vehicles on the car park of the Meir Park branch.
It comes after the national hardware retailer announced the shop was one of 61 across the country to welcome back customers this week.
In total, 75 B&Q stores around the UK have reopened, with opening times of 8am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on a Sunday.
As with supermarkets, the stores have social distancing rules in place and certain counters in the stores remained closed, such as paint-mixing and bathroom design.
Cash payments are also not allowed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
However, many StokeonTrentLive readers are not happy to see B&Q back open while the coronavirus pandemic still rages.
Steven Chappell said: "By opening B&Q you are putting other people who have got to work to supply B&Q at risk. People are rushing there to buy fence paint, it's an absolute joke. All they see it pound signs."
Louise Holloway said: "This has caused a stampede and traffic on Meir Park has built up right round the roundabout, the slip roads and back along Uttoxeter Road. Good luck if anyone wants to get to Aldi or Tesco."
And Deb Battison said: "I didn't realise they've lifted the lockdown. They're just encouraging more people to go out and the peak will happen again."
While some hardware shops have remained open, along with pharmacies and supermarkets, B&Q had initially opted to shut its stores when lockdown began.
Under the coronavirus lockdown rules, people are allowed out shopping for 'essentials' with such stores have always been exempt from the UK government's orders to close.
The Crewe shop has also reopened with limits on the number of people allowed in at a time, two-metre markers on the floor and perspex screens at the checkouts.
But branches at Festival Park and Talke Pits are not among those listed.
Steve Johnson was among those to visit the Crewe store.
He said: "The car park was packed with hours of queues."
However, some StokeonTrentLive readers couldn't see the rpblem with reopening B&Q - so long as the rules are followed.
Tricia Davis said: "What is the difference between queuing for shopping and queuing for DIY? People have got to have things to do. This could very well go on until Christmas.
"Our diy shop down the road has never been shut thankfully. I could not sit around all day everyday doing nothing, except house chores."
And Suzanne Parkes said: "I live alone and have just decorated my front room. I want to do my bathroom next so I'm glad B&Q is open.
"It's no different shopping there to Tesco. There's social distancing in both places.
"Why are people getting on their high horses about this? People are shopping for what they need and going home, not walking the streets with their tins of paint."
A B&Q spokesman said: "As an essential retailer, we’re committed to providing the best possible service to support customers’ home improvement needs at this difficult time, while keeping customers and colleagues safe.
"Having watched other essential retailers support social distancing in their stores, we are now following their best practice and are re-opening some stores with strict social distancing measures in place.
"Similar to shopping at a supermarket, we’re strictly limiting the number of customers in store at any one time, and so customers are typically queueing before entering stores.
"All stores have a designated queuing area outside and these have two metre markers to help remind everyone to respect each other’s personal space.
"To further support social distancing, we have two metre floor markers throughout the store and have also installed perspex screens at the checkouts.
"Only products that you can shop and takeaway in store on the day are available to customers.
"Our services such as kitchen and bathroom design, paint mixing, timber cutting and key cutting are not available for the time being and, at this point in time, we’re only accepting card and contact-less payments.
"We continue to offer our Click+Collect service at diy.com. However, it may take several days for orders to be ready, and may be temporarily unavailable at busy times. Customers can also place orders for contact-free home delivery for a limited range of products at diy.com too.
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"In recognition of the importance of Trade customers being able to carry out repairs and maintenance for their customers, TradePoint is available at all re-opened stores and our Trade customers are also able to purchase products online at trade-point.co.uk
"We’re urging all customers to follow the Government’s social distancing guidelines, to shop responsibly only for what is necessary and to be patient whilst we give them the best possible service in the safest possible way."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnN0b2tlc2VudGluZWwuY28udWsvbmV3cy9zdG9rZS1vbi10cmVudC1uZXdzL2RpeS1lbnRodXNpYXN0cy1zdGFtcGVkZS1zdG9rZS10cmVudC00MDcyNjA40gFpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3Rva2VzZW50aW5lbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL3N0b2tlLW9uLXRyZW50LW5ld3MvZGl5LWVudGh1c2lhc3RzLXN0YW1wZWRlLXN0b2tlLXRyZW50LTQwNzI2MDguYW1w?oc=5
2020-04-23 15:42:00Z
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