HITCHIN: Sainsbury's in Bancroft are urging shoppers to continue wearing face coverings despite Covid restrictions being relaxed.

From this week people in England will no longer be legally required to wear masks in supermarkets.

While the government still recommends people continue to wear masks in crowded settings - it is now a matter of personal choice, including Hitchin's Sainsbury's.

The requirement to wear masks has been removed today (Thursday 27th January), Sainsbury's off Bancroft has still asked all customers and staff to keep wearing masks - although this will not be mandatory to shop there.

A spokesperson for the supermarket said: "Safety remains our highest priority. From Thursday, we're asking our customers and colleagues in England to continue to wear a face-covering in our stores if they are able to.

"In Scotland and Wales face coverings remain mandatory for those who can wear them in our stores, in line with the latest Government restrictions.

"We continue to have a range of safety measures in all of our stores, including screens and sanitising stations."

As Nub News reported last year, Sainsbury's announced it would be cracking down on people who fail to wear a face mask when shopping including stores in north Herts - however, such rigorous checking is now absent as Covid cases continue to fall.