RELIEVED businesses across the Halstead area are getting back to work after lockdown restrictions eased on Monday.

The Government officially stepped down some Covid-19 regulations on Monday, allowing many hospitality businesses across the country to reopen.

Anticipation has been high as residents flock to businesses such pubs and barbers.

The Swan Inn, in Chappel, is one such pub to open its doors to punters once again.

Due to existing rules, pubs can only open their beer gardens to residents.

However, it didn’t stop punters from enjoying their first pub pints for months and residents were enjoying the pub’s tent-covered beer garden and getting back to normality.

The pub is even using military grade sprays to keep customers safe.

Swan Inn landlady Amanda Casey, 53, said: “It’s been very busy. So many people are pleased to get back to the pub.

“It’s been a shock to the system for our staff. We support the local Colchester Brewery and we emptied the barrel easily in the first hour. ‘A pint of Colchester Number One’ must have been the only thing I heard for hours.

“The demand is definitely there but our job is to ensure they are safe and everything is clean.”

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When asked how customers reacted to being allowed back, Amanda added: “I would say elated and over the moon.

“The responses have been really positive and they’ve been happy to comply with our rules.

“This is exactly what we needed right now.”

Hair salons in Halstead have also seen a surge in customers after reopening.

Cutters hair salon in Head Street opened on Monday and says residents were queueing on the street to make an appointment.

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The salon is even opening for longer hours in its first month back in order to accommodate everyone.

Owner Abi Cutter, 27, said: “We’ve been very busy.

“It’s been crazy, really, but it is exactly what we needed after the lockdown.

“We’ve had people queueing out the door to make appointments.

“People have been getting some DIY home hair jobs by wives and daughters but I think they realised there is nothing quite like getting it done professionally.

“Some appointments we’ve had to book a little longer and overrun because there’s just so much hair – it’s taking longer.”

But after businesses reopen, Abi says it is vital residents shop local.

She added: “It’s absolutely fabulous to see things slowly going back to normal.

“But we’ve got to get behind small businesses in the town because these have been very tough times.

“It’s so important to say no to the big brands for our local high street.”

She added: “My staff are so eager and excited to get back and work – we’re all good friends.

“We’ve been getting messages from each other and we’ve stayed in touch.”