Today, it becomes mandatory in England to wear a face covering in our shops and supermarkets – unless you qualify for an exemption.

I want to urge all residents across St Helens North to please – if you can – wear a mask and continue adhering to existing social distancing and hygiene guidance to #KeepShopsSafe.

Be considerate towards those who are unable to wear a mask, and also to deaf or hearing-impaired people who may need you to take the mask off to understand what you are saying.

Please also respect our shop-workers – it is not their job to enforce and uphold the new rules, it’s our responsibility. Any abuse towards them or their colleagues will always be totally unacceptable.