Shoppers on the less busy streets of Doncaster Town centre as South Yorkshire enters the Tier-3 restrictions imposed by the government to try to halt the spread of Covid-19Shoppers on the less busy streets of Doncaster Town centre as South Yorkshire enters the Tier-3 restrictions imposed by the government to try to halt the spread of Covid-19
Shoppers on the less busy streets of Doncaster Town centre as South Yorkshire enters the Tier-3 restrictions imposed by the government to try to halt the spread of Covid-19

Picture gallery shows how Doncaster town centre looked yesterday under new tier three restrictions

This was how Doncaster town centre looked yesterday as new tier three restrictions hit home.

With restrictions on people from different households meeting, bookies closed, and pubs that do not sell meals shut, our pictures show how the public responded – with some shoppers heading for town, although businesses reported some confusion among residents over what the restrictions entailed.

Ryan Davis, who runs the KD Davis fruit stall on the markets, said he thought the town was just as busy as most other weekends had been.

"I don’t think tier three changed much in terms of shopping,” he said. “I don't think it deterred too many people, although there were conversations among customers over that they can and cannot do. There were some people who said they were wondering why the Primark was open, because they’d heard that they’d closed their shops in Ireland. It doesn’t affect them here.

"I don’t think it made much difference from tier two to us.”

Another market trader, Nigel Berry, who runs a fish stall, said it had been quiet until 11am, when it got busier. He said some traders believed that may have been because of uncertainly among shoppers over what they could do.

"I think word eventually got round that it was only certain businesses that had to close,” he said.

But Andrew Stancliffe, who runs Lakeside Furniture Direct, at Waterdale, said things had been very quiet.

"The top end of town was really quiet,” he said. “I’m not sure that everyone understands that you can still go shopping.”

Doncaster was put into tier three from Saturday, to try to reduce the levels of the coronavirus in the borough.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.