A POPULAR discount shop which closed temporarily due to coronavirus will reopen this week.

Poundland has announced its shop in Culver Street East, Colchester, will reopen to customers on Friday.

The shop was placed into "hibernation" earlier this year due to the impact of lockdown on the retailer's businesses.

But following Boris Johnson announcing his road map out of lockdown on Monday, the firm said it was "reawakening" 29 of its closed shops across the UK.

The rest of the 44 stores which closed temporarily will be brought out of hibernation in the coming weeks.

The vast majority of the firm's more than 800 stores remained open through lockdown due its status as an essential retailer.

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Dubbed “Operation Spring Back”, all the stores coming out of hibernation will re-open to customers with "robust" health and safety measures which have been in operation throughout the pandemic.

Austin Cooke, Poundland retail director, said: “We’re proud to have kept most of our stores open serving our communities with the essentials they need, but in some places, we couldn’t stay open when so many of our neighbours were forced to close.

“The roadmap is good news for retailers and our town centres which have such an important role to play in our recovery and our colleagues and customers will be delighted that we’re re-opening in these locations, and so are we.

“Safety continues to be our first priority, and shoppers can return with confidence - we’re well versed in making our stores safe place to shop. We’re all looking forward to giving them a warm welcome as they return.”

Like all Poundland shops, the reopened stores will have barrier screens at checkouts and thorough and regular cleaning regimes applied throughout the day.

Customers are asked to observe government guidelines on social distancing and wearing masks whilst shopping in Poundland.

Poundland has two other shops in Colchester - in Sheepen Road and at the Turner Rise Retail Park.

You can find out more by visiting the Poundland website at www.poundland.co.uk.