A council has issued notices to two barbers after it found they were still operating.

Medway Council's Trading Standards team visited a barber shop in Gillingham after a member of the public reported it was still open.

Having received notification of the issue on Monday, April 6, and confirming it was still trading, the team issued a prohibition notice to the shop owner preventing them from carrying on a restricted business.

Another notice was served to a barber shop in Chatham yesterday.

Medway Council did not disclose the names of the barbers affected due to ongoing investigations.

Barber shops are among businesses which should remain closed during the nationwide lockdown.

Failure to comply with the notice creates an additional criminal offence punishable by a potentially unlimited fine.

Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Alan Jarrett, said: “We understand that this is an extremely difficult time for businesses, however this trader’s actions placed himself, his customers and the wider community at risk.

"The government has put measures in place which enables us to provide additional financial support to our residents and businesses who need extra help during the pandemic and I have used Urgency Powers to allow this work to be carried out immediately.

"In just one week we received nearly 1,300 online forms and, after verification checks, we have already paid out grants totalling £7.01 million.”

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