Home improvement retailer Wickes is reopening its Preston branch as part of a nationwide trial involving six stores.

Strict new social distancing measures will be in place to protect colleagues and customers when the store reopens tomorrow (Thursday 30 April).

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The store will limit the number of customers at any one time, while signage and floor markers will advise customers to keep two metres apart. Perspex screens have been installed at the tills and service stations, and colleagues on the shop floor will be using PPE. Sanitising stations will be available for customer use and the store will only accept card and contactless payments.

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The Aqueduct Street store will also operate on shorter opening hours – Monday to Saturday from 7am to 6pm, and on a Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Services such as timber cutting, and paint mixing will not be available during the trial period and kitchen and bathroom design appointments are only available virtually. Refunds will also be unavailable until all Wickes stores open.

Although classed as an essential retailer under the hardware category, Wickes chose to close its stores in March following the Government’s coronavirus social distancing guidelines.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines

Are you pleased to hear Wickes is reopening? Let us know in the comments.