Families flock back to The Yard in Stamford on May 17 reopening

While many people wouldn't deem a soft play centre as relaxing, parents visiting The Yard in Stamford this morning (May 17) felt a sense of calm.

Today marked another milestone in the Prime Minister's roadmap out of lockdown, with indoor soft play centres finally able to reopen.

And The Yard's facilities were in high demand as parents booked in for their children to play as soon as the doors opened at 9.15am.

Aimee Swift, who co-owns The Yard with Jo Henchy, said: "It feels amazing to be back open especially for the children - it's been such a long time.

"It's nice for them to get back into playing and socialising in a different way. Some children are back at nursery but this environment is different."

She added: "The first lockdown was a bit of novelty, it was summer and children were a lot more occupied. This time it was a long winter and kids have really been effected, they've been indoors a lot more and I know with my children it's been really difficult to juggle the age ranges.

"I think people are desperate for a bit of normality."

The Yard closes every one-and-a-half hours so staff can clean all of the equipment and it is operating on a 40 per cent capacity to ensure social distancing can be adhered to.

However, the pair has seen some benefits to the new way of working.

"Hygiene has always been important to us," said Jo.

"We are going to keep the booking system. We've have brilliant feedback and it enables people to plan as they know they can definitely get in.

"Parking is also easier. There's lot of ways it has made the customers' experience so much better."

Before lockdown, Lucy Cowlishaw would bring her children to The Yard almost every week, so it is no surprise her and her two-year-old daughter, Ella, were one of the first back on the play frame.

She said: "We found it quite hard in lockdown particularly when it was bad weather. You can't take them to the park and there really wasn't much to do.

"We really did miss it."

With the soft play centre having been shut for many months, Lucy has also noticed a change in Ella's development as she has become more independent to explore the facility and mix with other children.

"When we came last time I was dragged up with her. It's brilliant for me because there's that massive time difference," she said.

For 15-month-old Finn Treanor, today marked his first time being able to explore the soft play area and it didn't disappoint.

His mum, Danielle, said: "I feel like we really appreciated the soft play when we weren't able to go.

"I think Stamford is really lucky to have such a great soft play centre.

"It's also important for the parents as when I come I know I will get a good coffee and cake."

The reopening of The Yard also gave parents the chance to catch up while their children played together.

Helen Knights said: "It's so nice to come back to soft play purely because it's a different scene.

"Both of ours are in nursery so it's nice to be able to come somewhere to watch them play and not make a mess in your own home."

Jess Frost added that while in lockdown it proved a 'difficulty' to keep her daughter entertained so she was excited to be back.