The chairman of Shepton Mallet Chamber of Commerce has called on local people to support small businesses in the town as non-essential shops reopen today (June 15).

Alan Stone said there were many challenges for independent shops in reopening and it would take different stores different amount of time to get ready to welcome back shoppers.

And the co-owner of Stones Cider said that Sheptonians need to support their small town centre shops now more than ever or the businesses might disappear completely.

He said: "The permission for all retail shops to reopen from this week is being seen as a major relaxing of lockdown and a big step in the return to normality.

"It is seen as a chance for small businesses at last to reopen and make sales. Unfortunately this may turn out to be a gross exaggeration of what actually can happen.

"Firstly, it's not a full opening up of the High Street. Many of the businesses so important to our small town economy will not be able to reopen.

"Hairdressers and barbers are an obvious example of this. Cafes, bars, restaurants and pubs extend the list.

"Furthermore many of those businesses that can open will find the restrictions they are under render attempts to trade normally will be impossible.

"Keeping the two-metre distancing is practically impossible in most of the small shops in Shepton Mallet however many directional arrows are stuck to the floor.

"Equally problematic is the 'no touching' requirements. If someone picks up a book in a bookshop to see if it is suitable, it should be quarantined for 72 hours.

"There are similar problems with trying on clothes. Mind you, it does strike me that trying on clothes other people have worn does seem a bit of a strange habit.

"The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has suggested that getting small businesses ready to reopen will cost them between £1,000 and £10,000 each, despite grants and bounce back loans this is money that many businesses will not have.

"In fact if you look at the practicalities it is probably only going to be the chain businesses who manage to get underway in any meaningful form in the next week or so.

"Given the resourcefulness many small businesses have shown over the past three months I am sure Shepton will see some interesting and creative ways to get trading.

"However, one thing is certain. To succeed they will continue to need the support of all the local residents who have found small food and other businesses so useful in helping recently and especially with home delivery.

"Please do not desert them now or the next time they are needed they may well not be there. Please support local small traders."

In figures released today, the FSB has said that as the crisis unfolded, more than half (51 per cent) of all small firms closed at some stage of the lockdown, and of those small businesses which have closed and remained closed during the lockdown, 20 per cent do not believe they can reopen in a way that is compliant with their respective Government's advice on working safely including social distancing.

National chair Mike Cherry said: "The past few months have been and remain some of the toughest periods of trading that the economy has faced in recent history.

"Right across every single village, high street, town centre and city shopping centre, small businesses have faced an unprecedented period of turbulence the likes none have seen before.

"That is why today is a crucial landmark in getting back to business, bringing the retail economy back on track as well as crucially safeguarding the livelihoods of millions of employees.

"But this won't be like flicking on a light switch, for many this will be a slow and gradual easing back into business.

"Not every small firm will find it financially viable to open, while others will not be able to cope with full customer demand on day one with social distancing measures still in place, and their desire to protect their staff, suppliers and customers.

"Some shops are deliberately staggering opening times among themselves to help manage the high street, and manage deliveries.

"The raft of financial packages from the Government has enabled thousands of businesses to stay afloat, but this of course cannot last forever, and we need small businesses to be back and trading, so they can get back on their feet.

"That's why it's vital that the public now do all they can to support small firms as they start to reopen.

"In place of a physical visit to a retailer, many small firms are trading in some capacity online, this is a great way support businesses that aren't ready to open just yet.

"Perhaps also go on to their social media and express your support, and provide a positive review where they have a review site, but for those going into the bricks and mortar stores, patience from the public is needed.

"There may be queues in place, limits on the number of shoppers in a single building and other measures all designed to protect staff as well as customers.

"So I'd urge everyone to show patience and consideration especially during the next couple of weeks.

"Making up 99 per cent of all businesses in the country, small firms are already the backbone of the economy as well as being at the heart of their local communities which is why they will play a pivotal role in the economic recovery over the weeks and months to come.

"Therefore it has never been more important to support small firms, shop local and support the nation's self-employed."