A FURTHER loosening of the coronavirus lockdown that will allow more businesses and public places to reopen on Saturday has been welcomed.

However, Blackburn with Darwen Council bosses are keen to stress that new guidelines will apply in all places in order to limit the spread of infections.

This comes after non-essential shops reopened for business earlier this month – sparking the Lancashire Telegraph's Back In Business campaign which aims to get shoppers spending to boost the local economy is a safe manner.

Executive member for environmental services Councillor Jim Smith said: “This will be good news for many businesses which have been closed for months due to the coronavirus pandemic but it is vitally important that all guidelines and safety advice is followed properly.

“We need to keep everyone safe – staff, customers, visitors and all our residents.”

From July 4 places able to reopen will include:

Pubs, bars, cafes, restaurants.

n Hairdressers and barbers.

n Holiday accommodation such as hotels, hostels, bed and breakfast accommodation, holiday apartments or homes, cottages or bungalows, campsites, caravan parks or boarding houses.

n Some leisure facilities and tourist attractions – this includes outdoor gyms and playgrounds, cinemas, museums, galleries, theme parks, arcades and bingo halls.

n Libraries, social clubs, places of worship and community centres.

New safety measures will include controls on customer numbers, social distancing and queueing rules and stricter health and safety routines.

The new regulations will also require that visitors should only enter such places by themselves or with people in their household group or support bubble, or with one other household, or with up to five other people if outdoors.