Eerie photos show deserted Meadowhall and Sheffield city centre on first weekend of lockdown

People across England are again being asked to stay at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus, with all but ‘essential’ shops ordered to shut for four weeks until December 2.

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That meant usually busy high streets across the city and Meadowhall shopping centre, which would usually have been packed as the build-up to the Christmas rush begins, were almost empty.

One visitor described Meadowhall as looking like a ‘ghost town’ on Friday evening, while there were few people to be seen out on both Fargate, in Sheffield city centre, and in Hillsborough.

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Under the new lockdown rules, people have been told only to leave their homes for a handful of reasons, including work, education, essential shopping and exercise.

People flouting the rules have been warned they face fines of up to £6,400, while anyone caught organising a large gathering could be ordered to pay £10,000.