Halfords to reopen 53 stores, including Edinburgh, Dundee and Inverness, to cope with cycling demand and car repairs

Social distancing measures will be put in place in the stores that are opening

Halfords is set to reopen 53 stores to welcome back customers as bosses said they have seen a surge in bike sales since the Government relaxed lockdown rules and encouraged commuting that avoids public transport.

The stores spread across the country will allow a limited number of shoppers through its doors under a model bosses want to call "Retail Lite".

Stores in Edinburgh, Inverness, Dundee, Hamilton and Stirling will be reopening.

Halfords has been allowed to remain open throughout the global pandemic and subsequent lockdown, classed as an "essential" business.

The decision comes a day after the Government said most non-essential retailers could reopen from June 15, although the announcement was overshadowed by the Dominic Cummings scandal engulfing the Prime Minister.

But the company chose to close sites and operate an employee-only model where customers could make purchases from outside or online, meaning 335 of Halfords' 446 retail stores have been run this way since lockdown.

Halfords said: "However, there is no timetable or deadline in place for doing so and the pace will instead be dictated entirely by the company's confidence that it can keep its colleagues and customers safe."

New rules include reduced customers, queuing marshals, safety notices and floor markings, sneeze screen visors for staff and instructions to customers not to handle or try on products.

Chief executive Graham Stapleton said: "There has been a big surge in demand for our bike products and services as people have taken to cycling during the lockdown, both for commuting and for fun.

"We are also anticipating a similar level of demand for our motoring products and services in the coming days, as people begin to use vehicles again that in some cases will have been off the road for many weeks."

In addition to its retail stores, Halfords currently has 346 of its 373 garages and 77 vans operating under a contactless model.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.