DOBBIES is to open 12 Scottish garden centres tomorrow as lockdown restrictions ease.

The First Minister announced that garden centres and plant nurseries can open with physical distancing in her daily coronavirus briefing.

Dobbies is to allow a limitied number of customers in a store at one time, with hand sanitising and trolley cleaning stations will be available at the entrance.

A queuing system will be in operation outside the stores, with two metre markers in place to help maintain social distancing.

Protective screens have been installed at tills and customers will be asked to pay with card or contactless, where possible.

Staff will wear PPE and they will also receive regular training on how to keep themselves and customers safe. Restaurants and soft play areas will remain closed.

READ MORE: Scotland's lockdown eased: Six things you can and can't do as 'phase 1' begins

Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies, said: “We welcome this updated guidance from the Scottish Government, enabling us to reopen our 12 stores across Scotland on Friday 29 May. 

“The safety of our team members and customers remains Dobbies’ number one priority and following advice from the Government, Horticultural Trades Association and British Retail Consortium, social distancing measures have been implemented.

“We began reopening our other UK stores on Monday 11 May and we have now successfully opened 56 stores across Wales, England and Northern Ireland. It has been a very positive start to trading, with customers most interested in buying plants, gardening products and outdoor furniture, as they are keen to spend time in their gardens this Spring.

“I would like to thank our team members and customers for their understanding during these uncertain times.”