In a survey of 2,062 adults, just 41% of respondents said they would feel comfortable returning to retail stores on their local high streets, while the statistical picture for other shopping locations was even grimmer, according to research by Walnut Unlimited.

Just 37% of respondents said they would be comfortable visiting a retail park or out-of-town retail destination, while just 34% of respondents said they would feel comfortable visiting a reopened shopping centre.

The data will likely come as a blow to many ‘non-essential’ retailers that are looking to ramp up trial store reopenings over the next few weeks as the government begins to unwind some of the lockdown measures it put in place to limit the spread of the virus in March.