‘WE are back in business’.

That’s the rallying cry from town leaders, business chiefs and independent traders as the Lancashire Telegraph launches a new campaign to help the high street get back on its feet.

Non-essential shops are continuing to reopen as part of the government’s gradual easing of lockdown measures ­— and we want to celebrate those businesses.

Whether it’s big firms or independent traders, we are joining forces with community leaders in calling on people to support our local shops.

Many have had to put precautions in place to protect staff and customers, changing the way they work and serve us.

Loraine Jones, general manager at The Mall Blackburn, said: “What a week we have had here at The Mall.

“It has been very emotional watching the centre come back to life - seeing shoppers return and our friends and colleagues working in the stores.

“All the staff have worked extremely hard both in lockdown and during the reopening preparations. From delivering additional hygiene procedures to managing queues and answering questions, they have continued to provide a fantastic service with a smile on their faces.”

Although footfall is not yet at pre-lockdown levels, shoppers have managed to adapt to health and safety measures, and outlets such as Primark and Debenhams have proved popular.

Ms Jones said: “As we take tentative steps towards a return to normal, we will ensure that this ‘new normal’ is as easy as possible for our valued customers.

“I would like to thank everyone who has visited us this week and we look forward to seeing more people in the coming weeks and months.”

The markets in Blackburn and Darwen have told a similar story, with stallholders able to return to business last Monday, including well-loved favourites like Green’s Butchers, Whittaker’s Butchers, Mayer’s Fishmongers and many more.

As with The Mall, new guidelines were in place to prevent the spread of infections, but nevertheless, stallholders were relieved to get back to a semblance of normality.

Malcolm Marsden, of Whittaker’s Butchers, said: “You’ve got to adapt and overcome, footfall’s been down, a lot of people don’t want to come out but we’ve been keeping up with the phone orders so we’ve had the best of both worlds in that regard.

“I’m not worried because we’ve been doing it for 104 years, we’ve got a generations customer base, so I wasn’t worried one iota.”

Surveying the return of customers to the market, town centres and markets service lead for Blackburn with Darwen Council Clare Turner agreed.

She said: “We have had a steady flow of customers old and new all week, but we have also seen many of them still taking advantage of the new delivery services our traders have set up over the last three months to receive fresh, local produce direct to their doorsteps.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council alongside Cummins Mellor recruitment agency have created a brand-new business hub, located within Blackburn town centre’s One Cathedral Square office building, which will allow businesses of any size the chance to operate out of its offices at a rate of £100 per week while providing administrative support.

Councillors and business leaders hope that this will be the bulwark that small enterprises need to survive and prosper and spearhead the region’s recovery.

Executive member for growth and development Cllr Phil Riley has been closely involved. He said: “This is a very good opportunity for small businesses and anyone starting up at the moment. The business world is working a bit differently at the moment as we work through the coronavirus crisis, so we want to help people to get them, and the borough, through this in a new and dynamic way.”

East Lancashire traders have worked hard to weather the economic storm the virus has unleashed, but with the support of the community they hope the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight.