ONE-WAY systems, hand sanitiser stations and protective screens are all part of the measures in place at the new £11 million Covid-19 secure Warrington Market.

Residents are being reassured that all the necessary safety precautions are in operation at the Time Square site which opened last Monday.

Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden says the market has got off to a really successful start. He said: “From people visiting our fantastic range of stalls, to families enjoying the all-new Cookhouse, the market has been a bustling, vibrant hive of activity, which is great news for our town centre.

“Of course, central to all of this is safety.

“People’s health and wellbeing is our main priority and we’ve put arrangements in place to support this.

“Measures such as having staff on the doors managing numbers with one-way entry and exit routes, queuing systems, hand sanitiser stations, sneeze guards and thorough cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces.

“Traders and customers are also being encouraged to wear face coverings and clear signage is visible throughout the building.

“Regular tannoy announcements are reminding people to observe the signage and follow the guidance.

“We have also removed some of the tables in the Cookhouse to support social distancing, with seating separated by protective screens so people from different households can dine safely.

“The biggest challenge for us at the moment is managing the number of people in the market, with lots of people – unsurprisingly – wanting to come and experience the fantastic new market for themselves.”