City centre bustling as customers return, but future unclear for shops still not open

The High Street was among the streets bustling and its shop's tills ringing as retail shops, that were forced to close during the lockdown, welcomed back customers.

But customers have all this week been getting used to a new normal, with one-way systems, floor stickers and queues outside stores ensuring visitors stay socially distance and prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Tim Evans, from Toys & Games of Worcester, said: "We're really glad to be open and see old friends and customers, and some new faces that have found us over the lockdown.

"It's so important to us to engage with people.

"We had two fears for reopening, either we'd have no customers or we'd struggle to be able to maintain a safe environment.

"Neither of those situations came about, instead its been a great, relaxed week talking to and helping people. Good to be back."

Among the shops still to reopen in the High Street are Accessorize and Clintons.

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We have previously reported that Accessorize's parent company, Monsoon Accessorize, had gone into administration.

Monsoon's founder, Peter Simon, bought the business out of administration almost immediately, and in what appeared positive news Worcester was not one of 35 stores permanently closed.

But despite being able to have opened this past week, the shop is still shut.

And Clinton's has also not reopened with empty shelves in darkness that can be seen from the outside.

Although the card retailer has reopened its Bromsgrove and Kidderminster shops there has been no word on its website about the city centre shop.

But on its website Clinton's has a list of stores nationally that have opened adding: "The rest of our stores will be reopening soon".

Clinton's and Accessorize have been contacted for comment.