PERSONAL and professional pride is going into the reopening of businesses on Monday – and a fair bit of DIY work too.

Prime minister Boris Johnson confirmed the next stage of lockdown lifting in England will go ahead as planned on April 12.

Non-essential shops, hairdressers and gyms can reopen, and pubs and restaurants can start serving customers outdoors.

Connect2Vapes, a vaping shop in Broad Street, Worcester, have been preparing by giving the front of the premises a facelift ahead of launching a new range of stock to mark the comeback.

“We are painting the outside of the shop, giving it a spruce up before we reopen. We’re all really excited about it,” said proprietor Andrew Connellan.

“The screens we need were already up from the first time but we have done a few things like getting in better products and a better range.

“People must have been buying juices from somewhere so we hope that making these efforts will inspire them to come back in, try what we have to offer and keep coming back.

“We are really looking forward to seeing people again and that is part of the reason why we have put so much into revitalising everything, it has actually done us some good.”

Much of the fuss has been about the reopening of pubs for outdoor service but not all can offer such provision.

Pershore Town Football Club, which boasts a lockdown mural courtesy of the town's answer to Banksy, is stepping in with hardworking volunteers putting all sorts of provision in place and extending opening hours to welcome back punters whose usual pubs may still be closed.

Committee member Jacqui Marler said: “We have new seating outside and mobile sanitisers throughout the building.

“We are opening more hours than usual as many of the pubs in town won't be opening until May.

“Everyone is buzzing to bring in some much need revenue and get the club and function room up and running.

“Let's hope the weather us kind to us and the town can support us.”

Meanwhile, Martha Newbury, who runs Exclusive Gym in Broughton Hackett alongside husband and founder Phil, cannot wait to repay the loyalty of their clients.

“Through each lockdown our members and clients have supported us more than we could have ever imagined so we are really looking forward to seeing everyone again,” she said.

“We have had to make some changes inside and outside the gym, the equipment has all been spaced out to fit the regulations, sanitation stations have been placed all around the gym and we have also extended the outside area of the gym with a permanent structure to make more space.

“Everyone has been working extremely hard to create a safe and welcoming facility and we are all excited about the next stage of opening up again.

“For both Phil and I, the gym is a central part of our life meaning so this is a very important time. We are thrilled to be able to deliver our services in the best way that we can.”