SPINNING Gate Shopping Centre has seen 70 per cent of its stores reopened during the lifting of the coronavirus lockdown.

The Leigh shopping centre boasts 39 stores within 110,000sq ft of retail space.

Following the lifting of UK Government restrictions on non-essential retail stores from June 15, the centre has welcomed back 70 per cent of its stores.

The remainder of stores which remain closed are expected to open in due course once further Government restrictions are lifted.

The shopping centre, remained open during the pandemic, with seven essential stores providing a lifeline to the community of Leigh, including two food stores; two banks and two opticians which continued to trade throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the centre partially operational.

During the last three months, more than 202,000 shoppers have visited the centre, remaining loyal and shopping local safely.

Shoppers returned to the centre with smiles at the opportunity of being able to browse and shop locally.

Karen Cox, centre manager of Spinning Gate said "Our retail partners have worked incredibly hard to ensure their stores are safe for shoppers to return to. We have implemented a number of measures to ensure the safety of store staff, the centre team, our shoppers and all visitors to the centre.

"We have installed signage throughout the centre, implemented regular PA tannoy announcements reminding our shoppers to remain at a safe distance whilst visiting us. The centre team and store staff have undertaken COVID training and are reminding shoppers to remain 2m/6ft apart whilst visiting us in centre.

"We have enhanced our cleaning regime, ensuring the touch points in centre are disinfected hourly throughout the day. All centre retail partners have undertaken COVID19 Risk Assessments to ensure their stores are safe to re-open and adequate measures have been implemented to prevent the transmission of COVID19."

Spinning Gate Shopping Centre has expressed thanks to all shoppers for their loyalty and patience during this difficult period.

The centre respectfully asks shoppers to shop alone wherever possible (to help with social distancing), to observe floor markings around the centre and observe the queue management systems outside each store - these have been implemented to protect everyone's safety. Please be patient and kind with store staff and the centre team, they are all here to help you and we ask that you follow any guidance they provide you with.

Shoppers can enjoy free weekend parking on the Spinning Gate shopper car park.