Church Street in Twickenham will be pedestrianized for physical distancing, Richmond Council have announced.

From June 22, the much-loved street that hosts a number of community shops will be the pilot for the council's new Space to Shop scheme.

Making the street exclusively accessible to walkers "between King Street and Church Lane" and preventing cars and other vehicles from access will improve chances for physical distancing designed to keep people apart and stop the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus.

The vehicle restrictions will be during and either side of typical shopping hours, "every day, between 10am and Midnight" the council said, while deliveries for businesses in the area can continue up to 10am.

In addition, "the eight short stay parking spaces on Church Street will be temporarily converted to loading bays to facilitate deliveries and these will operate midnight to 10am every day..."

Richmond Council added that "over the next few weeks and months, further plans around other high streets will be announced."

Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Services Committee Alexander Ehmann described the impact the council believed the Space to Shop scheme would have for residents.

"I am delighted that we’ve been able to work together with the fabulous local businesses on our iconic, Church Street in Twickenham.

"I know what a difference it will make to our residents, knowing that when they come to visit they’ll have the Space to Shop.

"From Monday 22 June, visitors can come and enjoy what this welcoming street has to offer and do so with the comfort of being able to socially distance.

"We understand that this change has the support of the majority of businesses in Church Street," he said.