Primark bosses are considering opening some stores for 24 hours a day when non-essential shops are due to reopen in December, with hopes that this may help 'separate' shoppers more easily in the lead-up to what is normally a busy Christmas period.
A new report from The Telegraph shows that the fashion retailer is hoping longer opening hours could help keep 'stores safer'.
Chief Executive George Weston said in a statement to the news outlet: "If we are able to trade in some stores up to 24 hours a day, then we can keep people more separate from each other more easily.
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"We can keep the stores safer if everyone knows there are plenty trading hours and they do not have to rush on a Sunday into a six-hour period."
Many shoppers are in favour of the idea, with one writing on the Primark Hauls Facebook group: "Midnight shopping trip!"
Another person said it was a 'brill idea', while a third joked: "This isn't good for sleep walkers though - imagine sleep walking to Primark at 1am and emptying your bank account!"
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Primark, like other stores, has been operating with strict Covid-safe measures in place, meaning there is reduced capacity in its stores.
Last lockdown the company opted not to introduce an online shop, with no news to suggest it will do so this time round.
Following news that all non-essential shops will be closed down again as part of a second nationwide lockdown - a bid at reducing the R rate of coronavirus - some shoppers have been using their last chance to buy goods before Thursday.
Primark is one of many chains that has seen queues winding down streets outside store entrances.
In the city of Norwich in Norfolk, there was a queue dozens deep before the Haymarket-based store had even opened its doors.
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One shopper told the Eastern Daily Press: "I want to get a head start on my Christmas shopping, I'm from Yarmouth so I won't get a chance to get back over to Norwich after the lockdown."
Another shopper said: "After the lockdown, the shops are going to be crazy busy when we come out, so I want to start today. We also might not even be out of lockdown in four weeks' time."
There were similar scenes in Ipswich in Suffolk, with images shared online showing a large queue coming out of Primark, and heading back down Westgate Street.
LADbible has contacted Primark for comment.
Topics: UK News, Primark, Shopping, News