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Huge queues for Primark on final day before second lockdown as hundreds hit the shops

HUGE queues formed outside Primark this morning as hundreds hit the shops on the final day before the second lockdown hits.

Bargain hunters waited in line outside a number of stores from 7.30am to indulge in some retail therapy before shops close their doors again tomorrow.

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Shoppers keen to get on last trip in before lockdown queued outside a Primark in Sunderland
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Shoppers keen to get on last trip in before lockdown queued outside a Primark in SunderlandCredit: North News and Pictures
Shoppers queued up outside a Primark in Newcastle from 7.30am
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Shoppers queued up outside a Primark in Newcastle from 7.30amCredit: North News and Pictures
Sunderland shoppers waited to get their turn in store this morning
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Sunderland shoppers waited to get their turn in store this morningCredit: North News and Pictures
People emerged from the store with bags of clothes in Newcastle, ready for lockdown 2.0
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People emerged from the store with bags of clothes in Newcastle, ready for lockdown 2.0Credit: PA:Press Association

Shoppers queued for the Primark on Newcastle's Northumberland Street and the giant store in Sunderland to open before being unable to go into stores for four weeks.

The queues snaked from the door around the corner of the streets as people patiently waited for their turn to browse the rails.

And crowds forced to stay mostly inside for the next four weeks decided to quickly revamp their home with a last minute trip to Ikea, as the store in Greenwich, South East London, saw huge queues.

Non-essential shops will be forced to temporarily close again from Thursday as England goes into lockdown.

Only a small handful of critical stores will stay open, such as supermarkets, pharmacies and garden centres.

The lockdown is expected to last until December 2, although there is already speculation that the measures will last even longer than planned.

However yesterday Boris Johnson promised lockdown will end on December 2 and there will be "better days before us".

The PM told a Cabinet meeting today that without the four week lockdown Britain would without a doubt "see fatalities running in the thousands" but there is a "light ahead" for Britain.

Queues forming in Southampton as people rush out before lockdown
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Queues forming in Southampton as people rush out before lockdownCredit: Simon Jones - The Sun
People queued up at Ikea in Greenwich before the homeware shop closes tomorrow
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People queued up at Ikea in Greenwich before the homeware shop closes tomorrowCredit: London News Pictures
The queue went round the corner as shoppers waited their turn
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The queue went round the corner as shoppers waited their turnCredit: North News and Pictures
People wanted to get to the shops before they are unable to tomorrow
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People wanted to get to the shops before they are unable to tomorrowCredit: North News and Pictures
Shoppers out in force in Newcastle today ahead of the lockdown
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Shoppers out in force in Newcastle today ahead of the lockdownCredit: North News and Pictures
Masked up shoppers got ready to pick up a few bits before the second national lockdown
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Masked up shoppers got ready to pick up a few bits before the second national lockdownCredit: North News and Pictures
Shoppers queue up outside Primark on Commercial road in Portsmouth
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Shoppers queue up outside Primark on Commercial road in PortsmouthCredit: PA:Press Association
And in Liverpool shoppers also eagerly waited to get into the store
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And in Liverpool shoppers also eagerly waited to get into the storeCredit: AFP or licensors

Business chiefs warned the four-week shutdown must be the last as it has “been a body blow of devastating proportion for the economy”.

The decision to shut non-essential shops and ask Brits not to travel comes after Government scientists suggested there could be 4,000 deaths a day in England alone by early December.

But some experts say graphs used to justify a second Covid lockdown in England are "misleading" and are "mathematically incorrect".

It comes as coronavirus deaths have risen by 397 in the largest daily increase in fatalities since May.

But cases have continued to level off as 20,018 more people tested positive for the bug today - as the country faces a second lockdown from Thursday.

The rise in infections marks a 12 per cent decrease on last Tuesday’s figure of 22,885 - amid hopes that the government’s Tier system could already be helping to flatten the curve.

But fatalities have seen an increase of 8 per cent after 367 deaths were recorded in all settings this time last week.

What will be closing?

 

  • clothes shops
  • electronics stores
  • car showrooms
  • travel agents
  • betting shops and adult gaming centres
  • auction houses
  • tailors
  • car washes
  • tobacco and vape shops
  • card shops
  • phone shops
  • jewellery stores
  • toy shops
  • homeware shops
  • bookstores
  • music shops
Shoppers queue in an orderly fashion outside Primark at Gateshead's Metro Centre
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Shoppers queue in an orderly fashion outside Primark at Gateshead's Metro CentreCredit: North News and Pictures
Shoppers queue outside the Louis Vuitton store on Old Bond Street
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Shoppers queue outside the Louis Vuitton store on Old Bond StreetCredit: Rex Features

 

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