Shoppers braved the cold and formed queues outside stores in Bury St Edmunds town centre on the first morning of lockdown easing.

Non-essential retailers and hair salons are all permitted to reopen today and pubs and restaurants can serve customers outside as the country reaches the second stage on the roadmap out of restrictions.

Bury Mercury: Debenhams in the Arc shopping centre is due to close soonDebenhams in the Arc shopping centre is due to close soon (Image: Johnny Griffith)

Debenhams in the Arc shopping centre - which is due to close in the coming weeks - proved popular as shoppers looked to pick up a bargain.

Bury Mercury: Shoppers keen to pick up a bargain queue outside the department storeShoppers keen to pick up a bargain queue outside the department store (Image: Johnny Griffith)

Similar queues were also seen in Ipswich town centre, including at the Primark store.

Dozens-queue-as-shops-re-open-in-Bury-St-Edmunds

Iris Cox, who has lived in the town for 40 years, said: "I'm very pleased shops have opened. The thing is with Bury you go into a shop and they are your friends. They'll do anything to help you.

Bury Mercury: Bury St Edmunds shopper Iris Cox was happy to see store reopenBury St Edmunds shopper Iris Cox was happy to see store reopen (Image: Johnny Griffith)

"Bury's a very nice place. These shops are part of you."

Kevin Reilly, of The Nutshell micropub in The Traverse, is expecting a busy first few weeks after reopening today.

Bury Mercury: Kevin Reilly of The Nutshell pub in Bury St EdmundsKevin Reilly of The Nutshell pub in Bury St Edmunds (Image: Johnny Griffith)

He said: "It will be good to be reopening and getting back to some sort of normal times."