Watch: Enormous queue winds around entire B&Q car park as Edinburgh store opens

The Edinburgh store is one of 14 across Scotland to re-open in the coronavirus lockdown.

Lines of eager DIY customers standing outside one of the Capital’s B&Q stores are growing as the store re-opens its doors for the first time since lockdown.

Footage shared on social media shows shoppers queuing up outside the Hermiston Gait branch, separated by white marks two metres apart on the floor to ensure they are following social distancing measures.

The company trialled opening several stores across the UK on Sunday, including the Paisley outlet.

As of today, 14 branches in Scotland have re-opened.

The decision comes after B&Q bosses assessed the recent trial, where they enforced similar social distancing measures to supermarkets, and felt shoppers could browse in a safe and legal way.

The only items available for purchasing at the stores are those that you can takeaway on the day.

Shoppers queuing up outside the Hermiston Gate branch in Edinburgh, separated by white marks two metres apart on the floor to ensure they are following social distancing measures.

Kitchen and bathroom design services, paint mixing, timber cutting and key cutting are not available at this time.

A B&Q spokesperson said: "As an essential retailer, we’re committed to providing the best possible service to support customers’ home improvement needs at this difficult time, while keeping customers and colleagues safe.

"Having watched other essential retailers support social distancing in their stores, we are now following their best practice and are re-opening some stores with strict social distancing measures in place.

"Similar to shopping at a supermarket, we’re strictly limiting the number of customers in store at any one time, and so customers are typically queueing before entering stores. All stores have a designated queuing area outside and these have two metre markers to help remind everyone to respect each other’s personal space.

"To further support social distancing, we have two metre floor markers throughout the store and have also installed perspex screens at the checkouts. Only products that you can shop and takeaway in store on the day are available to customers. Our services such as kitchen and bathroom design, paint mixing, timber cutting and key cutting are not available for the time being and, at this point in time, we’re only accepting card and contact-less payments.

The retail giant continues to offer its Click+Collect service at diy.com.

It warns customers orders could take several days before they are ready, and may be temporarily unavailable at busy times.

Customers can also place orders for contact-free home delivery for a limited range of products at diy.com too.

The spokeswoman added: "In recognition of the importance of Trade customers being able to carry out repairs and maintenance for their customers, TradePoint is available at all re-opened stores and our Trade customers are also able to purchase products online at trade-point.co.uk.

"We’re urging all customers to follow the Government’s social distancing guidelines, to shop responsibly only for what is necessary and to be patient whilst we give them the best possible service in the safest possible way."