Queues outside Sports Direct - while other stores in Havant adopt phased approach to reopening

Keen shoppers were seen queuing down a road adjacent to the shop and around the back - with the waiting time estimated to be over three hours by some.

Steven Wright, 38, started queuing at 11am after travelling from Bognor Regis to take advantage of 50 per cent discounts for NHS staff.

He said: ‘It took me an hour to do a stretch of the road round the back of the shop and I’m still not half way. I think it will take another two and a half hours.

‘I did expect a fair queue though. I’ll probably get a parking ticket because you can only park for free for two hours - I’ll just have to contest it.’

While people further back in the queue were following the two metre distancing guidelines, shoppers at the front of the queue were seen bunching.

Steven added: ‘People aren’t following the rules at the front. You would think NHS staff would know better.’

Staff were seen separating people at the front of the queue.

Meanwhile, in the town’s Meridian Shopping Centre, a steady flow of customers turned out for the reopening of non-essential retail.

Masks, gloves and social distancing were the order of the day as people got out to the Meridian Centre after nearly three months of closure.

Shops, in line with government advice, took a number of precautions to ensure everyone’s safety.

Rob Fryer, The Meridian Centre’s manager, said: ‘It’s good to be open - it would have been nice to see a few more shops open.

‘More shops will be opening through the week with more next Monday.

‘There’s been a lot of risk assessments and we’ve spent thousands of pounds to get ready including on a new footfall system to see how many people are in the centre.

‘We’ve got social distancing signage but decided not to have a one-way system. We expect people to use their own common sense.’

Seating areas were removed along with children’s rides whilst there was hand sanitiser by the escalators.

Toilets were opened to the public. ‘We felt we needed this open and will always have a cleaner there,’ Mr Fryer said.

The centre normally attracts up to 70,000 people a week but Mr Fryer admitted they would be happy to see half that number.

He said: ‘It’s all a learning curve at the moment but if we can get in 50 per cent of what we normally do then that would be good.’

Ryan Khem, owner of stall Mobile Booth, said: ‘It’s quiet at the moment. A lot of the shops are still closed like Argos and Costa which bring in people.

‘I’m wearing a mask and gloves and am telling customers to keep two metres away.’

Mike Clark, store manager of O2 who was wearing a visor and gloves, said: ‘It’s very different to normal.

‘We are only allowing two customers into the store at any time.

‘We’ve got three staff with two people serving and have marked two metre bays and hand sanitiser.

‘We also have a booking notification system so people can book a specific time to come to the shop.’

Customer Roger Morris, 56, of Havant, said: ‘I think they’ve opened the shops a bit early.

‘They have done the responsible thing with sanitiser, guards and social distancing but it is frustrating when some people walk around like they have an invisible cloak on.’

Steve Viszkok, 59, of Havant, said: ‘I’ve no problem with the shops opening again but it would be better if more were open.

‘They should lift the social distancing of two metres - it’s crazy when you see people are shoulder to shoulder in supermarkets.’