More beauty businesses, including tattoo studios, nail bars and spas have been given the green light to reopen this week.

However it comes as bitter sweet news to traders, as they discover that services in the highest risk zone - directly in front of the face - will continue to be excluded. This includes face waxing, eyelash treatments, make-up application and facial treatments.

Sue Nielsen, from Absolute Beauty Centre in Duke Street, Whitehaven, said as soon as they got the go ahead to reopen they were inundated in bookings, but have had to cancel quite a few of them as facial treatments or semi permanent make-up is not allowed.

She said: “We’ve got all the measures in place to stay safe, but business is going to be a lot slower than it was, as we have had to reduce our capacity by 40 per cent.

"There are a lot of things we can’t do, as many of the treatments offered are above the neck and that is going to have a big impact.

"For some treatments I do not think it’s safe at this point to do them, but for eyebrows and lips it should be - men can still have their beards trimmed.”

Procedures are in place at the salon to keep people safe including masks, extra PPE for staff, customers coming alone and without their phones, NHS track and trace, washing hands, taking temperatures, screens and visors.

Sue said: “It’s the new normal. This is here to stay now until a vaccine is found.

“We have plenty of space here to keep clients socially-distanced, but many salons may struggle with the space issue.”

Customers can find out details of what is involved and book appointments through Facebook page or using the salon's booking app.

Indoor pools, gyms and other sports facilities can also reopen from July 25, although there are stringent measures in place in order to keep people Covid-19 safe.

For swimming pools these include: no overtaking while swimming; double-width lanes, rest areas outside the pool to avoid gatherings between lengths, an option to arrive in swim wear, 2m distancing in changing areas and pools divided for family sessions.

A spokesman for Copeland Council said: “Copeland Council and Better - who have our leisure contract to run Whitehaven Sports Centre, Copeland Pool and Fitness Centre and Cleator Moor Activity Centre – welcome the Government’s announcement on the reopening of our facilities.

"We know this will be welcomed by our valued customers, and we thank them for their patience and understanding during this enforced period of closure.

“We appreciate the guidelines in which we must now operate and the safety of customers and staff are paramount.

"We are working towards a gradual reopening of the facilities from the permitted date, with access being limited and operated under a booking facility for the initial period.”