NON-essential shops will be allowed to open on Monday for the first time since the lockdown – and one Bournemouth retailer has chosen that day to make its debut.

Sale Lab, an online retailer offering designer clothes at discounted prices will be opening its first store on Monday in the former Steamer Trading store at Gervis Place.

Store manager Laurie Dickie said: “We are really excited about opening. We have some really fantastic products, like top top brands that are up to 90 per cent off.

“All of the general public have been ordering stuff online so now that retailers are reopening, people will be keen to go out and about and not only see how the retailers have changed but to buy things in person.”

The Sale Lab store itself will be split into two, with one off items in one section and items with more quantities and different colours in the other.

The company has said it will adhere to the government guidelines about stores reopening and promises customers all the necessary precautions are in place.

Laurie added: “We will only be allowing a certain number of people into the store at any one time and the rest of the customers will have to queue outside.

“We will also be providing hand washing stations and hand sanitiser for our staff and customers.

“Of course, we want people to come in, have a good time and buy some amazing products but health and safety is the most important thing.”

Items will be covered in clear plastic packaging and customers will not be allowed to try anything on in store.

Other non-essential businesses selling shoes and electrical items will be opening their doors to customers on Monday, including the Poole branch of Currys PC World.

Zoos, safari parks and drive through cinemas have also been given the green light to operate, whilst places of worship will be opened for private prayer only.

The reopening has been welcomed by independent stores across the county who are busy putting in the necessary precautions to ensure they can open safety.

Rob Hoare, manager of Square Records, an independent record store in Wimborne, said: “We will be limiting the number of people in the shop to four, there will be hand sanitiser available on the door for customers and we have also laid out signs on the floor.

“I think a lot of people will still stay at home, especially the elderly, so the amount of casual browsers will not be as good as it usually is.

“We’ve just got to give it a go.”

Branksome's John Lewis At Home store is due to be one of the first two John Lewis stores to reopen when it welcomes back customers on Monday.

The chain said it was pursuing a “steady, gradual approach with rigorous safety and social distancing measures in place”.