Shops reopen in England: Live updates - BBC News
There are huge queues outside some shops across England as non-essential retailers reopen.
From tiny traders to billion pound behemoths, the lockdown saw businesses across London plunged into a sudden deep freeze.

Now the task of reviving them from hibernation begins.

It’s not as simple as flinging the doors open and welcoming a shop full of eager customers once again. There are serious questions for shops of all shapes and sizes around how to keep staff and customers safe, but also how viable they genuinely can be in this radically different trading climate.

For London’s beleaguered smaller high streets, those who survive the thaw may actually see a boost in trade. Bargain offers could whet the appetite, as long as social distancing measures convince shoppers to venture out.

But with the message to avoid public transport still ringing loud and clear, a walk down the local parade or town centre may seem a much more attractive proposition now than kitting the family in masks and dragging them to the West End for a day out.

The trick will be balance and flexibility.

The balance between the shopper experience and safety will be delicate and needs to be attractive enough to entice people in. So queuing systems, protective equipment and distancing has to be managed in a sensible way to maintain confidence and enjoyment.

But if it all starts to go wrong, those who show the flexibility to adapt and change things up quickly will have a better chance of surviving and even thriving.