Weston Favell issue fresh plea to groups and families to follow #StayHomeSaveLives instructions

Weston Favell Shopping centre has launched a fresh appeal to groups to stay away during the coronavirus lockdown.

Just a handful of the 60-odd stores are still open in the Northampton mall.

But centre staff have been alarmed at the number of families bringing in children to shop at supermarket giant Tesco despite Government instructions to stay at home and only go out to shop when necessary.

A spokesman said: "We are still getting large groups coming into the centre and families bringing their children in.

"It is for their safety as well as for the safety of the public and also our staff, that we ask the public to stay home and only come in if absolutely necessary, for food or medicine.

"Weston Favell Shopping centre would appreciate the public's support in respecting Government advice to adhere to social distancing when visiting the centre. This includes standing no closer than two metres when completing a transaction or when queuing, only using card payments and contactless where possible and only coming to the centre when completely necessary and not in groups.

"The centre is working hard to ensure that they can continue to provide a level of service to support retailers who are continuing to trade and serving their communities at this time.

"This includes working closely with Tesco to ensure the health and safety of shoppers and staff members are at the forefront of every decision."

Only stores providing essential goods and services – food & grocery, pharmacies, banks and post offices – have been allowed to stay open since the lockdown was announced on two weeks ago.

Tesco's Weston Favell store is limiting shopping to the elderly and vulnerable between 8am and 10am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. An NHS staff only shopping hour has been extended nationally from Sunday to also include Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Supermarket bosses have also introduced a range of safety measures to reduce risk of infection for customers and staff, limiting numbers of shoppers in the store at any one time, floor markings to ensure social distancing and protective screens at checkouts.

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