The first stores will reopen in late-June and early-July, with more following on a weekly basis.

President Jacqueline Dobson said Barrhead had been working "meticulously" on its store reopening plan.

Work has included individual risk assessment, and will comprise ongoing safety assessments.

Office-based staff will continue to work from home for the foreseeable future.

“We have been working on a meticulous return plan for our store network across the UK," said Dobson.

"Since we took the decision to close our [store] network ahead of the lockdown back in March, we have always said that regardless of when the government say it is safe to open we would not return until we were completely satisfied we can protect the health and safety of our colleagues and our customers – this is of paramount importance to us and has been our main focus."

Dobson added Barrhead’s resumption of high street operations would be a "gradual" process.

“Planning our return to stores has included rigorous risk assessments for each individual store, as well as looking at each specific location," she said.

"Our reopening schedule will be a gradual, phased approach with the aim of opening the first few stores at the end of June or beginning of July.

"We plan to gradually increase the number of stores open on a week-by-week basis with ongoing safety assessments. Many of our office-based colleagues will continue to work from home for the time-being.”

Barrhead embarked on a major expansion effort last year, with plans to double the size of its retail network while leaving no UK region off the table.