The Royal Victoria shopping mall in Tunbridge Wells is open for business again after weeks of being closed because of the coronavirus lockdown.

Bosses opened its doors to customers this morning with a whole new raft of safety precautions.

There are one-way signs stuck to the floor and warning notices reminding customers to keep 2m apart.

Shopkeepers like Rich Ross, who managers Claybrooks jewellers in the mall, have turned up for work wearing face masks as recommended by the Government.

He said: "Customers are asking to just look at jewellery rather than try it on. And we sterilise rings whenever they have been handled."

Nick Daniels, 45, who lives near the High Street took today's reopening as an opportunity to get his mobile phone fixed. It had been broken since the start of lockdown.

He said: "I've just dropped my phone off and I've got to wait 45 minutes for it to be fixed. So I thought I'd look around the Royal Victoria to see what's open.

"I don't need anything but I wanted to see what the vibe was like and I've got lots of time.

"I need a hair cut more than anything!"

Ernest Sullivan, 63, from Woodbury Park had set his sights on Sports Direct and the HMV record store.

He said: "I came to see what was open because when I looked online it only mentioned some shops.

"I've seen Sports Direct is open and I want to go to HMV, too, which I believe is opening a bit later.

"I'm pleased shops are reopening. I think this has gone on too long.

"The arrows and the distancing is very good in here but it will be interesting to see what it's like when there are a few more people."

Gloria Moody, 82, who loves near St James School, said: "I came to see if the library was open.

"I'll probably pop in to see if Marks and Spencer is open. I just wanted to see what is open, that's all I'm here for.

"It's marvellous shops are open. There are so many things I haven't been able to do.

"I find it difficult having to walk all the way round but it's sensible.

"Another thing I'm looking forward to is the charity shops reopening again."

Queues have been growing outside the Fenwick department store and Sports Direct which is offering 50% discounts today for anyone working for the NHS.

Karen Wickens, 57, who lives in Garden Street, said: "I'm here because of the discount. I'd like to get some sports gear and golf balls."

Chris Heritage, 40, and his wife Lisa, 38, were also hoping to get a discount and had been queuing for 10 minutes.

Chris said: "My wife works for the NHS at Maidstone hospital so we've come to see if we can get anything with the 50% off.

"I'm hoping to get myself back into shape. There's not much organisation at the moment but hopefully they will get the hang of it soon."

Lisa added: "We were sent away because they are limiting the numbers in the queue. But now we've come back."

Outside at Waterstone's book store manager Michael Venner, wearing a face screen, was looking forward to welcoming customers back.

He said: "I am hoping it will be busy and that it will be a good day but obviously I'm not expecting it to be as good as before.

"We still have a few staff furloughed because we have no idea what trade will be like but it is good to be back. Twelve weeks has been a long time."

The store has installed screens at the tills and multiple stations for hand sanitiser. It has also introduced a 'cooling off' trolley for books on each floor.

Mr Venner said: "We still encourage customers to browse but when they have touched a book and not bought it, it goes onto a change-of-mind trolley where it is isolated and put out of circulation for 72 hours before going back on the shelves."

The store has a one-way system and limits the amount of customers inside at any one time.

To see how the rest of Kent is reacting to the new shopping guides click here.

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