Nearly three-quarters of shoppers said they would return to shopping centres but only if stores encourage compulsory hand sanitation, protective screens, limits on numbers and two metre markers, according to a survey by intu.

The shopping centre giant, which has a site in Watford, has surveyed 2,000 regular shopping centre visitors ahead of non-essential shops reopening on June 15.

It has already announced plans to slowly open up stores in the town centre, which includes limiting the amount of people and cars in the centre at a time.

In the company's most recent survey, it found two-thirds of people said they would be happy to be monitored on CCTV to control crowds and average waiting times should be around 10 minutes for store entry.

It also found that more than 60 per cent of people said they would actively encourage temperature scans on entering and leaving stores.

Shoppers also said councils and local authorities should be increasing support for independent and local retailers, with around 70 per cent saying it will help return to normality.

A similar number of respondents said infrastructure like charity donation drop-off points should also be updated.

intu added the research showed 81 per cent of people said they would visit shopping centres with the same or more frequency than they did before the coronavirus lockdown.

But with unemployment rising and Government support slowly ending, 28 per cent of shoppers said they would spend less than previously. Around 63 per cent said they intended to spend either the same or more than they did before the lockdown.

Looking at habits for shoppers as part of its report - The New Normal: Retail during and post Covid-19 - intu concluded: "The over-arching message is clear: people want to get back to normal - which is promising - but they need clear reassurance from retailers and leisure providers along the way.

"We need to ensure consumers feel safe and supported as restrictions lift. An open dialogue - allowing us to listen to what people want and need as the situation progresses - will be key.

"If we work together closely as a sector, we feel confident we can navigate the challenges the pandemic presents."