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Liverpool BID Company has said shoppers in Liverpool are “confident” to return as the second national lockdown ends and the city centre opens up.

Some 80 per cent of those visiting the city centre said they felt cared for by the health and safety measures in place and would return to Liverpool city centre, according to results of a mystery shopper survey carried out by the BID Company in May.

Meanwhile 90 per cent said they felt safe and would return to a hospitality business, while 75 per cent said they felt safe and would return to a retail business.

Bill Addy, Liverpool BID Company chief executive, said: “We have seen a high compliance among businesses in meeting and adhering to the government guidelines which translates into customers feeling safe and confident to return to Liverpool city centre.

“This exercise has been important as it has allowed us to identify easy to adopt recommendations to help firms reassure customers on the work they are doing to make their businesses covid-safe.

“I want to congratulate businesses for their efforts and investment to make the city centre covid-safe and also the people who are massively following guidelines which is what we need to continue the good work of reducing the cases and protect our community.”

The surveys, undertaken by Storecheckers before the country was placed in lockdown, also found the number of people wearing face masks increased across Liverpool, with the number not wearing them decreased from 32 per cent in September to 12 per cent in October. 

Meanwhile 94 per cent of staff were reported wearing face masks in hospitality businesses, with 84 per cent of staff in retail businesses wearing face masks.