As the coronavirus partial lockdown continues across the country, its impact is still being felt within businesses here in Plymouth.

While big name firms were forced to close branches nationwide, local business owners have been left assessing exactly how much damage the virus pandemic will cause long-term.

Take a walk down Plymouth high street and the impact of coronavirus is startling.

Hairdressers, shops, restaurants and bars that would usually be busy in such warm weather remain shut with no idea when they'll be safely able to re-open.

Although the health of the country remains the biggest priority, the ongoing uncertainty continues to have a crippling effect on local businesses.

But some shops and services are now able to open with restrictions in place.

To help our local businesses during these troubled times, we want to give something back.

For an hour on Thursday (May 21), we will be launching #IAmOpen Hour on Twitter between 2pm and 3pm.

During #IAmOpen Hour, we will be retweeting your business from the @Plymouth_Live Twitter account to our 61.6k followers - for free.

Helping you spread the great news that you're open for business again

The current crisis is having an immeasurable impact on normal life, and businesses right across the country are experiencing huge uncertainty. But our message is clear - we are in this together.

Reach plc's #IAmOpen campaign helps support local businesses to market themselves effectively in challenging conditions with free services and low-cost options, letting business tell their local communities their status.

Visit https://local.reachsolutions.co.uk/iamopen and let us know which free services and offers would make a real difference to your business.

This serves as a reminder that we are there with you during the darkness and want to help in any way we can.

All you need to do is tweet our @Plymouth_Live account with a photograph of you or your staff standing outside or inside your business with a #IAmOpen sign, also including the hashtag #IAmOpen in your tweet.

We want to make sure that the people of Plymouth know that you are open and to see the friendly faces that will be ready to welcome them through the door.

Charlotte Gosling, commercial editor for Devon and Cornwall, said: "As the coronavirus lockdown continues, we are noticing how local businesses across the county are struggling and we want to help.

"Our #ThereWithYou campaign earlier this year did a fantastic job connecting businesses needing support and their potential customers.

"Not only can local businesses now use our platform to tell the people of Plymouth they are open, but our readers can learn more about companies in their local area.

"I appreciate it's only a small gesture, but even if we tell one customer that you are open and they visit then it's got to be worth it."

We will also be running this on our DevonLive and CornwallLive sister sites, so if you have a friend, family member or neighbour who owns or works for a business in these areas, please let them know.