It was typically British, very much - 'after you madam', a civilised obeying of the new rules but most importantly, Felixstowe and Walton was making another step to business as usual.

Of course, not everything went to plan, the idea of closing the pedestrianised area of Hamilton Road at 10am didn't happen, and there were nearly as many cars in the precinct as there were in the main car park.

Bloomfields, the prestigious and long-serving furniture shop in Walton, brought out a vintage removals lorry, bedecked in balloons to add a bit of class and colour to proceedings.

The vehicle flow and parking meant many shoppers were being forced nearer the shop doorway than some found entirely comfortable but that indomitable English sprint prevailed.

"I needed to go to the bank," Joyce Scholes of Garrison Lane told Nub News. "I have not lived here that long but people are really friendly.

"All you need is a bit of patience, common decency and the common sense to understand it will take longer to do things than before.

"In a way, that is quite good, people won't rush around so much, and hopefully will have different priorities.

"The shop staff have been brilliant, there was even one man cleaning baskets for us to use."

But Elsie Humphreys of Faulkner's Way, was not totally impressed and said: "I still think it is too early to come out. I came into town to get something for a neighbour and I should have known it would be busy.

"Not everyone was wearing a mask like me, although I have to say they were staying the two metres apart."

Many shops had instructions for customers, staff on doors to assist people and restrictions on numbers varying depending on the size of shops.

Felixstowe Town Council had worked with businesses to set out guidance, the toilets and car parks were open and while some shops waited until 10am to open the centre was bustling, with some queues outside shops and post offices, just after 9am.

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See our live coverage from this morning.