HOLMES Chapel shop staff have been praised for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic following reports of staff being abused by customers.

The thanks comes from Holmes Chapel Partnership, which has created a page on its website to support local businesses which are continuing to trade during the lockdown.

The page includes shop opening times and restrictions, including details on social distancing and the number of customers allowed in premises at one time.

Partnership project officer Peter Whiers said that over the past two weeks the group had become aware of staff in local shops being verbally abused over limited purchases on items.

He said: “We have heard stories of customers getting very angry and verbally abusing staff.

“Such behaviour is inexcusable; the staff are simply trying to apply the rules about limiting purchases so that supplies can be fairly shared by everyone who visits the shop.

“We should all be grateful that our food shops have remained open to provide a service to our community.”

He thanked all the shop staff on behalf of the village for ‘the great job’ they were doing.

If you are a business which would like to be added to the listing on the website please contact the partnership.

Partnership chairman Hazel Sutcliffe said the group was looking at supporting businesses once the lockdown was lifted, encouraging people to shop locally and looking into the possibility of funding support.