Sports fans and key workers flocked to Sports Direct at the Tandem Centre following a further easing of restrictions yesterday.

The sportswear chain reopened 374 of its stores on June 15, after the government allowed non-essential stores to reopen its doors, following the UK lockdown.

Shoppers were seen in hour-long queues, spiralling 'all the way around' the car park, after the chain announced an exclusive offer of 50% off to NHS workers.

In a statement online, Sports Direct's said: "As sport returns, one team gets all our support.

"Thank you, team NHS from everyone at Sports Direct."

Pictures and videos show the growing queues from 11.45 am all the way up to and after 4 pm, as shoppers were eager to receive the massive reductions.

The queues at the Tandem Centre echoed similar scenes across London, including Kingston and Oxford Street.

Wimbledon Times:

Passers-by compared the queues to Black Friday sales and said there was no social distancing in sight. 

Alia Waheed, who took a picture of the queues, said: "I expected it to be busy post lockdown but wasn't prepared for how busy it would be.

"Sports Direct was like Black Friday and the January Sales combined.

"The queues were snaking all the way round through the car park."

Key workers took to Facebook to express their joy over the discounts.

One person said "I’m NHS and it was worth the queue for me.

"Everything was on sale and then I got 50% off the sale - bought Nike trainers for £20."

The offer is no longer available.