THE manager of a Swindon soft play centre says he's 'elated' to finally be able to reopen today after lockdown rules were eased.

The rule change has brought a measure of relief to businesses in the Swindon area.

Alistair Burnett, manager of the soft play area Kidz About in Westlea, said: “We are absolutely elated that we can reopen this weekend.

"We, along with others, have been patiently waiting for it to be safe to open again.

“We’ve stripped out two thirds of our tables so they can be distanced, brought in new cleaning procedures and we will carry out risk assessments.

“We’re currently having 65 children per session and people will need to book beforehand. It has been extremely difficult being closed for so long.

"Despite being given the go ahead to open our doors doesn’t mean we’re quite out of the woods yet.”

Manager of Jungle Mania in the Brunel Grace Knights-Ward said: “It has been a really long time that we have been closed so we were really happy to hear the news.

"But we found out along with the public that we would be open so we were only given 48 hours notice.

"We have to put measures in place and do risk assessments so that’s why we’re delaying our opening until August 29.

“It’s really frustrating that there has been miscommunication, it was almost like we were forgotten about in the update.

“Then all of a sudden late at night I find out that we’re allowed to reopen,” he told the Adver.

When Jungle Mania does open its doors a clean will be done between each two hour play sessions.

Staff will be given Covid training, temperature checks will be carried out at the entry and bookings are needed in advance.

The Thyme Treatment Rooms in Pipers Way started some of its treatments earlier this week but can now carry out all of them from today.

Managing director Jordan Ackrill said: “When we opened Monday we were only doing body treatments like nails, waxing and massage.

"But now we can do all of our treatments starting this weekend.

“I’m looking forward to getting to reopen completely but we had clients message us about it before we had even found out so that was frustrating.

"It’s been like this at every stage, we would just find out at the same time as the public.”

Despite Boris Johnson announcing that more leisure facilities, including ice rinks, could reopen the ice rink at the Link Centre will stay closed.

A spokeswoman for Better, which operates the centre, confirmed the rink will be reopening in September but could not give a specific date yet.

Face coverings will be compulsory in all settings such as public transport, shops and museums.

Children over 11 will also need to wear one.