A tanning salon chain has been forced to close again after breaking lockdown rules by reopening on Super Saturday.

Sun City Tanning, which has ten branches across Essex and east London, announced on social media it would reopen all of its branches today.

This morning, the Epping Forest Guardian rang the Loughton and Chigwell branches and staff from those salons confirmed they were open.

But the salon chain announced in the early afternoon that it was being forced to close by authorities.

It wrote on an Instagram post to customers: "Sorry to have to inform you all that the Government have just enforced our closure saying that pubs, restaurants and hair salons can open today but we still can’t!?

Read the previous story: Tanning salon chain breaks coronavirus rules by announcing reopening

"We’ve been threatened with fines, legal action and even having our licence revoked! They also haven’t given us a date or any clue whatsoever as to when we can reopen!

"We were under the impression that because we are a non-tactile industry with all Covid-19 safety measures in place that we’d surely fall under a 'safe to open' bracket - clearly not.

"Especially the fact that the three sectors opening today are very social, tactile industries. It would seem that 'logic' simply isn’t a factor at all in the reopening of the economy.

Epping Forest Guardian:

Sun City Tanning announced it would reopen in an Instagram post. Photo: Instagram

"Still...we hope everyone stays safe today whilst out n about socialising in the shops and pubs. We so hope to see you all again soon...whenever that may be."

Customers commenting underneath the business' post seemed to agree with the owners.

Pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, cinemas, hotels and other businesses in the hospitality sector were allowed to reopen today.

But some businesses have not yet been given permission to reopen - including tanning salons, spas, nail bars and other beauty sector businesses. The rules are written in the law.

For a full list of what businesses can and cannot reopen today, click here.

Epping Forest district councillor Stephen Murray said the illegal reopening was brought to his attention early this morning.

He told the Guardian earlier today that he had contacted the district council's chief executive Georgina Blakemore and was told the council's officers would investigate.

He said: “I realise that local businesses are keen to resume trading but the Government will be following public health advice about which types of business still need to remain closed and it is only reasonable to expect all such affected businesses to adhere to this guidance."

Sun City Tanning has been contacted for comment.

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