FLINTSHIRE's high street shoppers and businesses begrudgingly agree with the Welsh Government's decision to implement a 'fire-break' lockdown.

On Friday, Wales will go into a two-week lockdown under similar restrictions that were imposed during the UK-wide lockdown in March to try and stem the flow of the new coronavirus cases.

It follows a three-week local lockdown in Flintshire - with residents having been unable to leave the county without a reasonable excuse.

And on Tuesday, the Leader took to Mold high street to sample the views of shoppers and shop owners on the matter.

The general consensus is that the lockdown is a necessary evil - and is required to stop the virus getting out of control and so to protect the NHS from being overwhelmed.

Shoppers said they "agree with it completely", and having one is "definitely better than not having one".

The Leader: Mold High Street. Mold High Street.

Selwyn Evans, owner of Siop Y Siswrn, said: "It's very challenging times for the high street and town centres and unfortunately the timing is the worst timing for high street retailers are concerned as Christmas shopping usually starts during October half term.

"But at the end of the day this virus is beyond everybody's control and I just hope we're back to normal and open on November 9.

Asked whether the local lockdown has also had an effect on his business, Mr Evans said: "We have a lot of customers who come from Wrexham, Denbighshire and from the Wirral who obviously haven't been able to come so it's definitely had an effect on our footfall and the town centre in general."

Mr Evans added: "With these challenging times, unfortunately some people are going to lose their jobs and not every high street business is going to survive.

"Health is the first priority and if the experts say this will help we'll have to go with it."

Jane Davies, owner of Jane Davies fashion designer store, said: "It's going to be very hard as we were just starting to pick up again after the first bout [of coronavirus] and we decided to do winter like we normally would do and it's been ok.

"But when we had the lockdown in Flintshire we noticed a drop, and with the next lockdown looming we're going to really focus on pushing online sales and pushing our social media presence and hopefully that will help us to survive.

"With us being a lady's wear business, ladies love dressing up but if they have nowhere to go are they going to be buying nice dresses?"

She added: "From a health point of view, I think Mark Drakeford has done it correctly. I think he's keeping us safe and while everyone knows how difficult the decisions he has to make are, I agree totally with the lockdown.

"It is going to be hard but you've got to stay positive and hopefully we'll get through this and everyone will get through this."

The Leader: Jane Davies - owner of Jane Davies womenswear. Jane Davies - owner of Jane Davies womenswear.

Martin Jones, owner of Vaughan Davies menswear, said: "It wasn't a surprise when the news came yesterday (Monday) and there was always an element of doubt as to whether non-essential shops would be required to close. But we have been ordered to close so close we will on Friday.

"It's obviously going to have an affect on business for the next couple of weeks, but I feel it's going to have a longer-lasting affect that it will take a time again for things to build up once the shops are open again.

"It will take time for people to have that trust again to come out to shops, to mix on the high street. So it's not necessarily just two weeks, it could be two months worth of an impact."

Mr Jones added: "As for the timing, I'd rather it happen now and hopefully we'll be able to be open right the through over Christmas and the New Year, than carrying on and having to close in December - which would be a disaster.

"But it's going to have an impact on high streets across Wales, and in Mold's case the markets and market traders are going to be affected greatly.

On whether he agrees with the lockdown, Mr Jones said: "I think something had to be done - it is getting serious by the sound of things.

"And for the sake of the NHS, we have to protect it."

The Leader: Martin Jones - owner of Vaughan Davies menswear. Martin Jones - owner of Vaughan Davies menswear.

Paul Elson, owner of Kave Barbershop, said: "I personally agree with it, in our line of work we're working in very close proximity with people of all ages and even with all the protective measures you're still concerned about it being enough.

"But obviously it's going to have another massive affect on my business and so many others - I employ six people and I just hope there's another financial support provided by the government.

"But the sad the reality is that some high street businesses aren't going to survive this."