Blackpool welcomes return of visitors but worries about summer

Businesses in English seaside resort that has been hit hard by the Covid pandemic still face uncertain future

• Coronavirus - latest updates
• See all our coronavirus coverage

I felt like a kid going to Disneyland for the first time," said Blake Lockwood, 22, describing the giddy journey to Blackpool Pleasure Beach from Leeds on Monday morning. There was a buzz from everyone on the train," Brad Walker, 19, added.

The pair were up at 6am to prepare for their big day out, with a detailed itinerary of the park's 11 rides planned, followed by food, tamer rides while lunch digested and then a drink on a sunny pub terrace.