Co-op Peterborough to provide queuing customers with umbrellas

Customers heading to their nearest Co-op store in Peterborough will now be protected from the elements.

The retailer has bought umbrellas for all its shops to make sure queuing customers won't have to worry about the rain.

This is the latest in a range of measures put in place by Central England Co-op to support its communities during the coronavirus pandemic.

Matt Simpson, Central England Co-op store manager, said: “Our members and customers have been fantastic at working with us to ensure that we all keep safe and healthy during these uncertain times by adhering to social distancing measures.

“However, due to the unpredictable nature of British weather, we thought it best to ensure every store has a set of umbrellas for customers to use if they have to queue while waiting to enter our stores. The umbrellas will be sanitised between each use.”

The store umbrellas come just after a second phase of social distancing measures including permanent hand sanitiser stations at the front of all stores and a one-way system being put in place.

These new measures will sit alongside a raft of others already in place including plastic screens at till points and face visors issued to staff.