Black Country and Staffordshire high streets left empty as new lockdown kicks in
High streets were looking less busy after lockdown began today - but that didn't put off all shoppers.
Wolverhampton city centre looked unrecognisable from just a couple of days ago as non-essential shops closed their doors.
However not all shoppers were put off by the lockdown in Dudley, Walsall and West Bromwich town centres, as they went out for daily essentials.
Some shoppers could also be seen at Merry Hill and Stafford's Riverside shopping centre.
Traffic was still travelling on the road and motorway networks but the M6 appeared much less busy.
In Dudley Street, Wolverhampton, just a trickle of shoppers could be seen. That was also the case in the nearby Mander and Wulfrun shopping centres.
Only essential shops - those selling food and toiletries - stayed open. But popular stores like JD Sports and Game were closed.
A note was left on the latter store's window at the Mander Centre, which simply read: "We're closed. National lockdown."
Nearby at Pete's Farm House bakery store, which is also in the Mander Centre, half of the shelves were empty of baked confectioneries.
Kerry Clinton, who works at the shop, said: "We are not making that much because we won't be able to sell it.
"Our takings are less than half of what they were before. I think lockdown will be a very hard time to get through.
"It was very hard before lockdown."
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Her colleague Janice Hardware added: "We had to close during the last lockdown. But we have seen more customers than we thought this morning.
"It is more the older ones who are out."
Every shopper could be seen with a face mask on as people stuck to social-distancing guidelines.
Among those who were out shopping was Dave Clarkson, 74, who is from Parkfields in Wolverhampton.
He had just bought a pasty from Greggs, and was wearing a black face mask, when he told the Express & Star: "Lockdown has been caused by people not following the rules.
"They [the Government] should have asked them to wear face masks in the first place. It is the same as transport. If you don't have face masks, you shouldn't be allowed on."
Mr Clarkson has regularly gone out shopping throughout the pandemic and said the lockdown hasn't put him off now.
"From day one I have had to come out," he said. "I always wash my hands and wear a face mask.
"If everybody did that, we wouldn't be in this situation."
Mr Clarkson was only a handful of shoppers who were out on the high street in Wolverhampton this morning.
He continued: "It is quiet today. I have just bought two magazines for an old dear. I haven't really got to do anything else.
"Normally I go to a cafe but he has shut now so he won't be open until December."
Another shopper who was out on the streets was Anne Allen, 56, of Wolverhampton.
She had visited the town centre to do her weekly shop including pick up cat food.
Despite the lockdown coming into affect today, that didn't put her off visiting the city centre.
She said: "My husband does the shopping most days. I have had to go to the bank and get shopping for next week like the cat food.
"The thing is I had a stroke so I was in lockdown from the beginning. I have not been put off from coming out now because every shop has got sanitiser.
"Everyone has got masks and are social distancing."
