Desperate shoppers were seen sprinting to join queues for popular stores amid freezing temperatures as they were allowed to open for the first time this year.
Extraordinary scenes played out outside JD Sports in Oxford Street, London, as trainers enthusiasts ran to get to the end of the line to try and get inside earlier.
Youths and adults jostled with each other to get their places ahead of the doors being flung open at 9am.
Meanwhile in Birmingham, the world’s biggest Primark in the city’s High Street saw at least a hundred people queue up to grab bargains.
Keen shoppers arrived well in advance of this morning’s special 7am reopening time at the huge store.
The retail giant has extended opening hours for the first initial week in an effort to recoup profits lost over the pandemic.
Footfall analysts Springboard are expecting a near 50% uplift during the first week.
And Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said it was a ‘big day’ for reopening businesses, and that many were ‘excited and desperate’ to welcome customers back.
Early morning shoppers run to queue outside the JD Sports store in Oxford Street, London, desperate to get inside first
People rush to get to shops on Oxford Street as they reopen after coronavirus restrictions ease after long months of closure
Shoppers were seen jogging in an effort to get to the front of the lines to get instore first as the lockdown was released
Shoppers at Primark, in Birmingham, as England takes another step back towards normality after months of tough lockdown
‘It’s a big day for the country and it’s a big day for all of these businesses reopening their doors today,’ she told Sky News.
‘They are very excited and desperate to welcome their customers back (with) the focus on safety.’
Ms Dickinson said that retailers were now used to preparing to reopen their doors, having experienced the process during previous lockdowns, but added that customers also had a ‘part to play’.
‘Because they’ve been through this process before… they would have been ready the last week or the week before, and are just keen and enthusiastic to welcome us back,’ she said.
‘Members of the public have a part to play in following the signage, the guidance that we get given queueing if we need to… and all of the safety features that are in place. We have a role too.’
Jessica Palmerston, 35 from Walthamstow, East London who arrived at the popular store in Oxford Street soon after it opened for business told MailOnline: ‘I have been waiting for Primark to reopen for the past three months.
‘I hate shopping online, I love going into this shop because it’s a real buzz when you see the latest fashions and people getting excited about clothes.’
She revealed that she had bought an assortment of socks, underwear and tee-shirts for herself and her children.
These lucky shoppers managed to get inside Primark before many others in Birmingham
This is the first time in months as pubs and shops across England can open up fully
People queue outside Nike Town on Oxford Street as shops reopen as lockdown is released
Ms Palmerston added: ‘Pri-Mani is the best and it’s wonderful to be able to return here. There’s nothing like filling up your basket with lots of treats; we deserve it because we’ve suffered enough.’
Nala Bee, 25 arrived at the store with her friend Ryan C.
She said: ‘We got up at 7am to get here before it gets too busy. I’ve really missed the shops not being open. I hate online shopping. I love going shopping, try things on and have a bit of fun. It’s my therapy, it’s what makes me happy.
‘I’m after socks and jumpers and am going to buy as much as I can because during this lockdown, I’ve managed to save a bit of money.’
Lesley Black, 47 who was accompanied by her daughter Demi, 20 said: ‘Between us we’ve spent about £200 on underwear and pyjamas.
‘It feels wonderful to be back in the shops and we’re going to spend the whole day shopping. Both of us love spending a day at the shops and we’ve really missed it during the lockdown. Luckily, I’ve got some money saved so I now plan to spend it all.’
Primark appeared extremely popular in other parts of the country too, with shoppers queuing outside the branch in Truro, Cornwall, an hour ahead of its scheduled re-opening.
It came against the backdrop of Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning the nation to ‘behave responsibly’ during the lockdown easing today.
The PM urged caution during the ‘major step forward’ as a scientist advising the Government warned the rules must be followed to minimise a possible rebound in case numbers.
‘I’m sure it will be a huge relief for those business owners who have been closed for so long, and for everyone else it’s a chance to get back to doing some of the things we love and have missed,’ Mr Johnson said.
‘I urge everyone to continue to behave responsibly and remember ‘hands, face, space and fresh air’ to suppress Covid as we push on with our vaccination programme.’
It will be the third in a series of easings since the third national lockdown was legally imposed in England on January 6.
The next significant date is May 17, when socialising indoors will be permitted under the ‘rule of six’ – if the Prime Minister judges that the vaccination programme is safely breaking the link between infections and deaths.
After three months of full national lockdown, the Government said on Sunday that a further seven people had died in the UK within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test. Another 1,730 lab-confirmed cases were also announced.
Around 61% of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to official figures suggesting that more than 32 million people have received a jab. More than 14% have had both doses.
Mr Johnson welcomed a ‘record-breaking day’ for second doses after figures reported on Sunday stated a rise of 475,230 jabs.
