BUSINESSES across Cumbria have taken a step forward towards normality as the Government's roadmap out of lockdown hits a new milestone.

Today, some pubs, hairdressers and non-essential shops are able to welcome back customers under step two of the roadmap.

Barrow's hairdressers are looking forward to seeing old faces and tackling the towns lockdown hairdos.

Paul Devlin, owner of Devro’s Barbers said: “We are all really excited because we haven’t worked at all this year. Everybody is excited about going back and we had a staff meeting to iron out all of the precautions that will be in place going back.

“It’s a bit bizarre to think that we haven’t even been open once this year and we are in April."

Heath's toy store said there is 'still a future for the high street', as owner Phil Heath welcomes the thought of a busier town centre. He said: “We are looking forward to trying to getting our town centre busier again and people using the local shops which would enable us to invest more in our businesses and revitalise the town centre.

“It’s going to be a different but there is still a future for the high street, I am sure of that.”

Nicola Dawes of The Owl Sanctuary and Oscar’s Nest said: “Paul and I are really looking forward to seeing people again and we hope that people will continue to support us and donate where they can.

“We will be bringing the owls back into the shop but we want people to be mindful that because the owls haven’t seen people for a long time that some of them may be a little bit jumpy.

“We are really excited and it will be nice for the town in general to have a bit more life again. It will be nice to see familiar faces. We wish everybody good luck in reopening.”

Among the pubs reopening in Barrow today are The Berry, Furness Railway and the Tally Ho.

A spokesperson for the Tally Ho said: "Please be patient and kind to all our Tally Ho staff we will try our very best under these restrictions to make your trip to the Tally Ho as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Cant wait to see you all very excited to be opening again, we have missed you all and can't wait to welcome you back."