THE streets of Bradford on Avon were busy this morning as shopkeepers and other non-essential businesses opened their doors for trade for the first time in several weeks.

There were queues of men outside the Silver Street Barbers lining up for haircuts, and many of the town’s shops reopened after the third lockdown since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Jackie Allan, owner of the Piha retail clothing shop in Lamb Yard, said: “It feels like the town is coming alive again. People have been coming in just to say hello and have a chat about what is going on.

“We’ve taken some deliveries and made some sales, so for us it’s a win-win. So far, it’s all good.”

Early this morning, the Clean Up Bradford on Avon group were out and about tidying up the town centre.

Mrs Allan added: “I have spoken to some of the restaurant and café owners and they are glad to be open. It feels like the community is coming back together.”

At Pablo’s Bistro next door, Simon Connolly was serving customers who had stopped by for a coffee and a snack. He said: “I opened at 10am for the first time since December, although we have been doing takeaways.

“So far, it’s going very well. It’s nice and busy and people are really happy to be able to go out. Here’s hoping it will last. You never know.”

Two of his customers included Jenny Duffin, 72, from Bristol, and her friend Pauline Francis, 70, from Keynsham, who had come to Bradford to meet up for a coffee and a chat.

“We do this regularly and have been meeting in Bath’s Victoria Park during lockdown,” said Pauline. “We’ve been friends for over 30 years.”

Over the road, several men had lined up outside the Silver Street Barbers to get their first hair cut in several weeks.

They included Connor Mooney, 17, from Holt, who had been waiting for around half an hour to get a trim. I thought yesterday it’s about time I had a hair cut. It hasn’t been cut for a couple of months.

“I’m going for the classic teenage boy trim and am really looking forward to it. However, I’m more excited about being able to go out tonight when the pubs open.”

Phil Hall, 50, from Bradford on Avon, had ventured out early this morning hoping the barber shop would be open at 7.50am and waited for about 20 minutes but was forced to go back home when he found it still closed.

“I had to wait until it opened at 9am and I’ve been waiting for about half an hour, reading my book. I came for just a trim. I’m not going out to the pub until Saturday but I wanted to get it done.”

He added: “The last time I had a hair cut was when my son William did it, but he’s now gone back to university.”

Dry stone waller, Kit Wright, 17, from Winsley, was also waiting in the queue. He said: “I’m going to get a short back and sides. It’s a long time since I had my last hair cut. I’m just delighted they’re open. It gets annoying when it’s too long.”

In Silver Street, Jo Harbour, 63, and her daughter Steph, 34, were able to open their new boutique Heaven’s Bazaar, for the first time in weeks, having relocated the business from Bath last August.

“We closed at the end of January and are delighted to reopen. We moved from Bath because the rents were too high and the footfall had steadily declined in the ten years we were there.

“We are focusing on selling affordable clothing, jewellery and accessories with a high-end look and will be working on getting our upstairs area sorted out.”

The Dorothy House charity shop in The Shambles also reopened. It’s part of the Winsley charity’s chain of 28 shops across Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset and Wiltshire.

One of the staff said: “It’s great to be open again. We’ve had a busy morning sorting out donations and attending to customers.”

Mark Laycock, the owner of The Lock Inn next to the Kennet & Avon Canal reopened at 8.30am for their famous 'Boatman's Breakfasts.

He says they have have more than 114 people booked in for meals today.

"We have worked hard to get ready for today and we are licensed until midnight. We are not a pub so we shall keep an eye on things.

"But it's brilliant to be open again. We have put a lot of work into our outdoor area and have 86 tables all socially distanced.

“We’re expecting to be really busy at lunchtime.

"We are taking bookings online for meals and will be taking bookings today for our canoes."