The Vale of Glamorgan Council has introduced a range of measures in Penarth and other town centres locally to keep visitors and residents safe.

Welsh Government gave the green light for non-essential retailers to open again from Monday, providing a welcome boost for many Vale businesses.

With more shoppers returning, Penarth, Cowbridge, Barry and Llantwit Major town centres have all seen changes to promote social distancing and also undergone a thorough cleansing programme.

Litter picking visits have increased, bins and benches have been checked and cleaned and more frequent road sweeping visits are taking place.

Grass has also been cut, all flower beds thoroughly weeded and cleaned and graffiti removed from Council land.

To help people stay at a safe distance and avoid congregating, temporary signs offering guidance have been put in place in town centres, while pavements have also been widened to include parking bays on Holton Road and High Street in Barry as well as Windsor Road in Penarth.

Away from town centres, there have also been some alterations at resorts, including a keep-left system at Barry Island and one-way system at Penarth Pier.

Peter King, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services and Transport, said: "The last few months have been challenging for everyone, but that has been particularly true for many business owners who saw their trade dramatically cease.

"Reopening non-essential retail outlets will be welcome news to many, providing a boost to the local economy and helping people get back to work.

"But this loosening of restrictions must be done cautiously and carefully. Coronavirus remains a very real threat so we would urge people to act responsibly and observe the safety measures we have put in place that help to allow social distancing when visiting town centres and resorts."