Introducing babies to extended families, live football, going to pubs and seeing loved ones again – these are just some of the things BFP readers are looking forward to once lockdown ends.

The Prime Minister plunged England into a third lockdown at the start of 2021, after a new variant of Covid was seen to be spreading rapidly across the south east in December.

At the time of the announcement, Boris Johnson said the lockdown would last at least six weeks as the UK tackled rising case numbers and significant pressure on the NHS.

We asked readers what they were looking forward to most after lockdown ends – and received more than 480 comments on the BFP’s social media.

From people saying they wanted to introduce their new bundles of joy to grandparents and other extended family, to those shielding looking forward to seeing their friends and family again and people being able to work again after losing business over the past almost one year, this is what you cannot wait to do.

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Children seeing extended families was high on the list, as well as kids seeing their friends and going back to school, with Heather Bustin saying: “Introducing my little girl to her family. Eight-months-old and [has] spent most of her life in lockdown,” while Lauren Jade said: “Finally seeing family and letting my daughter spend so much time with her family as she’s missed out on so much.”

Samantha Cleaver added: “Seeing my family, some of whom haven’t met our baby who will be one by then, spent most of her life in lockdown so far,” and Pam Shepherd commented: “Seeing my great-granddaughter Olivia Marie, [she’s] almost nine-weeks-old and longing to hold her for the first time.”

Many residents have also lost their businesses or seen huge losses, with Jessica Rose saying: “Being able to work and actually try and rebuild my massage business after losing it all”, while Joelean Ivermee Woods replied: “Exactly the same.”

Readers are also looking forward to dining out again and going to pubs, with Alan Van Roon commenting: “Live football, pubs and restaurants, freely able to see my children and relatives,” while Susannah Levers said: “Seeing family…and going out for a socially distanced meal,” and Sue Allen commented: “A wonderful, relaxing evening out with my incredible friends to a nice restaurant, even thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.”

Meanwhile, Gareth Morris joked: “Doing a normal cough without having to hide in another room to do it,” to which Phil Ray replied: “Not having to fart to hide a cough.”

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And Alison Harvey said she is looking forward to “simple things that I’ll never take for granted again” including “hugging those close to me, coffee or a local restaurant with friends [and] a walk down Marlow High Street”.

Emily Phelps said she cannot wait for friends and family gatherings, going to the pub as well as concerts and festivals, while Katherine Box commented: “Being able to see my parents again, being able to attend funerals of our lost loved ones, being able to be together as a wider family, being able to go somewhere, anywhere,” and Theresa New added: “Hugs, putting flowers on my mum and dad’s grave. Seeing my sister, a paddle in the sea.”

Melanie Jones commented: “Seeing my mum who is suffering from dementia (and Covid) and is in a nursing home.

“She fell and broke her hip on Christmas Day and not being able to see her has been hell.”

The Prime Minister addressed MPs in the Commons saying the government would set out plans the week beginning February 22 for a “gradual and phased” path out of lockdown, adding this would depend on the “continued success” of the UK’s vaccine rollout, the “capacity of the NHS” and on “deaths falling at the pace we would expect”.