OVER 50 per cent of Porlock shops reopened this week and were settling into “a very new way of working” according to Debbie Stanyon of the village’s tourist centre.

“There have been a lot of adjustments for safety procedures and distancing, and we are very grateful to the district council for providing all the necessary signage.

“We are cautiously easing our way back – some shops are insisting that customers wear face-masks and others are opening by appointment – but we are welcoming day visitors, and are looking forward to when the government allows overnight accommodation to re-open.

“That’s when we’ll get a true idea of how our tourist trade has survived the pandemic.”

Dulverton’s Mayor, Cllr Jerry Lewis, said that business had started slowly when shops re-opened on Monday but traders were confident that it would improve gradually as mid-July approached, which was the start of the town’s main tourist season.

“The town council is working on schemes to promote the town as a visitor centre and we are hoping to recoup some of our losses in the coming months,” Cllr Lewis said.

“The feeling among traders is that they are just relieved to be back in business again and are anxious to return to some sort of normality. Dulverton has a lot to offer visitors and we will do everything we can to keep them safe.”

In Watchet, this week’s initial re-opening was described as “something of a non-event” by the town’s Chamber of Trade chairman John Richards, with only two shops – selling gifts and fishing-tackle – opening their doors again.

He said that, although most owners of “non-essential” shops were waiting for more positive signs that the pandemic was on the decline, there had been an increase in visitors, who had complied with the warning signs and footprint stickers provided by the district council.

“It won’t be until pubs, cafés and other tourist facilities in the town are allowed to open that you can expect to see any real signs of life returning to Watchet,” Mr Richards added.