Massive queues outside B&Q when Brits hit stores despite polls claiming most feel insecure about venturing



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Hundreds of Britons filled a main London street and lined up in a department store during the coronavirus blockade.

Crowds stopped to chat at Broadway Market, East London, while shoppers pulled out trollies filled with items from The Range in Leicester this weekend.

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    Shoppers follow social distancing patterns by queuing outside a B&Q in Loughborough

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Shoppers follow social distancing patterns by queuing outside a B&Q in LoughboroughCredit: PA: Press Association
    The warehouse reopened this week after closing at the start of closing

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The warehouse reopened this week after closing at the start of closingCredit: AFP or licensors
    Hundreds queue to enter B&Q on Sunday

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Hundreds queue to enter B&Q on SundayCredit: PA: Press Association

Three men were seen strolling with pints in their hands on popular Hackney Street, lined with bars, cafes, and boutiques.

The British can still buy a beer or a coffee, despite the closure, as companies can only operate on the go.

In Leicester, people came out of the popular department stores with patio furniture and household items as they took advantage of The Range as being considered an “essential” store.

Police patrolled the streets of central London as visitors walked through Trafalgar Square and others jumped on bikes to exercise this afternoon.

The bustling scenes in London and Leicester come as Britain’s coronavirus death toll reached 28,446 with 315 more people killed in the UK in the past 24 hours.

The grim jump in deaths means that the country remains one of the hardest hit by the deadly insect in the world.

DOUBLE PROBLEM

In an effort to control the rising death toll, government ministers are working on plans to almost double the blocking fines to £ 100 for the first offense and then to £ 3,200 for repeat offenders.

Recent figures show that police officers delivered 400 notices of fixed penalties for breaking the rules in four weeks to April 27 in England, Wales.

One person was even fined six times.

Under the new meaningless scheme, a fine will start at £ 100 and then double for a repeat offense.

A third offense would see a fine of £ 400, a fourth £ 800, then £ 1,600 and finally a sixth offense would cost £ 3,200.

This would mean that a consistent rule flouter would end up paying a bill of £ 6,300.

Failure to pay the fine could result in a court date and prison time.

A Whitehall source said: “In the next phase of our fight against the coronavirus, some of the social distancing measures will be relaxed, others will be tightened.

“Hand-in-hand with the new rules, the police powers will be stricter for the police to crack down on the small minority who break the rules and prevent them from putting everyone else at greater risk.”

    Crowds gathered along Broadway Market, East London today

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Crowds gathered along Broadway Market, East London todayCredit: Reuters
    Three men walk with pints in their hands at Broadway Market, East London

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Three men walk with pints in their hands at Broadway Market, East LondonCredit: Reuters
    A couple leaves The Range in Leicester with some new patio furniture.

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A couple leaves The Range in Leicester with some new patio furniture.Credit: PA: Press Association
    A police officer approaches a couple in Trafalgar Square this afternoon.

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A police officer approaches a couple in Trafalgar Square this afternoon.Credit: Reuters
    A man in a protective mask exits The Range in Leicester

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A man in a protective mask exits The Range in LeicesterCredit: PA: Press Association
    A woman pushes a full cart through The Range in Leicester

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A woman pushes a full cart through The Range in LeicesterCredit: PA: Press Association
    Mounted police officers patrol the Broadway market in East London

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Mounted police officers patrol the Broadway market in East LondonCredit: Reuters

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