Following the announcement of a new national lockdown this week, many Carlisle businesses have been pondering which are the best ways to maintain trade as well as keeping staff and customers safe.

For the city’s Bay Tree Florists, as a family-run small business the period ahead will be another step into the unknown, according to owner Ann Smith.

“We are getting up in the morning and hoping for the best," she said.

Adaptations from previous lockdowns mean they are well equipped to continue to operate but other worries abound.

“We are offering a click and collect service and doing home deliveries also, but it’s very difficult.

“When you’re a small business you are doing everything yourself.

"If you have staff that need to shield, then your workload increases."

Ms Smith does, however, is remaining positive.

“There’s a balancing act of keeping people safe and still trying to make money,” she said.

“We needed to lockdown and it is for the greater good.”

The need to adapt to a ‘new normal’ is shared at city centre antique sho, Cathedral Lodge Antiques.

“We’re trying to keep motivated and positive. We are keeping active on Facebook and Ebay, putting a post out every day so people don't forget about us,” said Jen Nichol, who co-runs the store.

“It’’s very difficult operating fully online. However, with antiques, people want to touch and look at what’s here up close.

“We feel the shop is like an extension of our home and we’re missing everyone from the community."

Carlisle bakers Pie Demand, meanwhile, is hoping it maintains its online customers.

“Every lockdown, it seems to affect us more. We’re just hoping to tread water,” said owner Brian Twigg.

“We’re offering a delivery service but this time of year is always difficult.”