Greggs opens select North East shops on a trial basis following coronavirus lockdown closure

An woman wearing a face mask as a precautionary measure against covid-19, walks past a Greggs bakers store.

The popular Newcastle-based baker is selling its popular products, including coffee, pasties and cakes, at an undisclosed number of shops in the Tyneside area.

Greggs initially closed all stores following the UK’s lockdown on March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But as a takeaway food outlet, the bakery is entitled to continue operating during lockdown providing appropriate social distancing measures are in place.

The gradual reopening process has followed a series of trials with staff testing working practices while remaining shut to customers.

A Greggs spokesman said: "We are initially operating shop trials behind closed doors in order to test the effectiveness of our new operational safety measures.

"We will continue to review this and will invite walk-in customers into our shops only when we can do so in the controlled manner we intended."

Chief executive Roger Whiteside issued a statement on the firm's website, stressing the trials were in line with the Government's Covid-19 guidelines.

He said: "These trials are being conducted across a number of channels, including delivery through Just Eat, Click + Collect and walk-in customers. Colleague and customer safety continue to be the primary focus of the decisions we take as we start to reopen our shops.

"Thank you for your patience while we work hard to play our part in getting the nation back up and running again and serving the communities in which we operate."