The pavements of Windsor Road, Station Approach, Glebe Street and Cornerswell Road didn't quite bustle this morning, but early signs suggest residents are eager to return to their beloved shops.

Restrictions on non-essential shops in Wales have been lifted, meaning consumers can emerge from their COVID cocoons and get shopping once more.

They did so tentatively throughout this morning - only charity shop shoppers were forced to form orderly queues.

But retailers across the town breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving a "steady stream" of returning shoppers.

"Oh my goodness, I can't tell you how excited we all are to be reopened," Sandra James of Artisans Corner told Nub News.

"Thankfully we've been able to operate a click and collect so we've been able to stay afloat, but people are social animals and we need to interact with each other.

"Being able to talk to our customers is the best part about running a shop, so it's great to be back.

"It's been a bit of a treacle this morning and I think it's going to take time for everyone to feel comfortable to come out again, but that's okay and understandable."

One shop owner was probably more excited than any other to be opening his doors, because he was doing so for the very first time.

"It feels great to be open," said Craig Parker Trott. He runs Apothecary64, the brand new Cornerswell Road scent shop.

"We've not had queues and queues but it's better like that in some ways - a steady stream. We did have someone queuing outside at five to nine this morning which was lovely to see."

One of Apothecary64's very first customers, Emily Davis, shed some light on why shoppers are so keen to return:

"It's just lovely to be able to support local businesses again," she said. "My mum's across the road in Florist64 - these were definitely the first two we wanted to visit."

Few shops, though, were flooded by customers. Penarth's charity shops were clear exceptions. Each had a small queue outside at the time of Nub News' whistlestop tour.

"Oh we've been looking forward to getting back to the shops for months," said queuer Margarita Christoforato.

"We come from Barry to shop here because of the atmosphere. It's a lovely place to shop."

She said she is not put off by the continued threat of the COVID-19.

"I'm not apprehensive at all. The charity shops in particular are very strict about social distancing and hand washing, so it's very safe."

Ruth Darker, who works in the Stanwell Road charity shop T Hafan, was able to take a moment to relay the experience of her first day back.

"It's like a Harrods sale," she said. "It's very exciting to be back. As soon as the doors opened, things were flying off the shelves. I thought we were going to get trampled.

"But really it's all very safe. We only allow eight in at any time and we make sure people sanitise. On the whole, it's great to be back."

Angelina Hall, Chair of Penarth Business Group and owner of Glass By Design, commented:

"Penarth traders' are buzzing with excitement today. The last couple of weeks have been so busy receiving new stock, building displays and getting everything ready.

"Now, we just need our locals to come back in through our doors and rediscover their High Street shops once more."