With one shop owner saying the latest lockdown had 'felt like five years', there was an early morning buzz as Middlewich came back to life.

Although the day started off crisp, more akin to February or March, the sun at least played ball, as the next step of the government's roadmap out of lockdown arrived on schedule.

With non essential shops once again allowed to throw open their doors to customers, plenty in the town had seemingly decided to start the day off with a much needed haircut.

Several of the chairs in the local salons and barbers were occupied, while others sat, waiting patiently, for their turn to have their lockdown manes tamed.

Other shops slowly creaked back to life, with the owner of nutrition business Big Kingz, declaring her love for her Wheelock Street home, and that she was so happy to see people out and about again.

Charity shops were also seeing their first customers in months, which are of as much benefit to the worthy causes they support as they are to those hunting out a bargain or two.

For the town's pubs, some were readying themselves for the post-work crowd, while others were waiting until later in the week to welcome back punters to their beer gardens.

Rick Brown, Manager of The Big Lock said of the sunny weather, 'it would be nice if it could stay like this until May'.

I think most people will echo those sentiments.