SHOPS selling the essentials were open in Okehampton this week as the month-long lockdown got underway — but were reporting business to be slow.

People were out and about stocking up in the days leading up to the start of the second lockdown on Thursday last week (November 5) but since then it had been quite quiet, said Raj Gadher, owner of DIY Supplies Home Hardware in St James Street.

He said he would be reviewing the situation at the end of this week as to whether to close a bit earlier in the afternoons.

‘The first three days of last week were quite good, we were very busy because people were getting all their stuff and then Thursday, Friday and Saturday were really quiet and today, Monday, has been the quietest so far.

‘People are saying it is not a normal lockdown everywere else but it is in Okehampton,’ he said. ‘We have got people still coming in but not like it is normally on a normal week. We have probably 40-50 per cent of the usual footfall.

‘We are still doing our full hours but we will review that at the end of the week and we will be reviewing our hours if it continues like this.

‘There is a problem, too, in that a lot of our supplies will start diminishing as well, with manufacturers being on furlough too. Fingers crossed it will be ok but there is nothing that we can do about it.’

At the Harvest Farm Shop in the Red Lion Yard, a co-operative selling produce from local organic farms, co-op member Sara Melendro said they were dedicated to staying open during the lockdown.

‘It has been a bit of up and down really,’ she said. ‘We were a lot busier during the first lockdown. Thursday and Friday were really were very very quiet although it was a bit busier beforehand.

‘People need to eat though and we are there to help with that,’ she said.

‘We were open throughout the first lockdown and people really appreciated that. We have had a lot of lovely comments.’

As in the previous lockdown, a limited number of home deliveries are available to people shielding.

In the Victorian Arcade, Emma Cridland, who runs Beanfeast with her partner, said things were quiet. ‘I don’t know if it is the weather, but everyone is staying home.’