The nation is preparing for stage two of the great ‘unlock’.

There is much attention being given to ‘social distancing’. pubs, schools and churches, among countless others, are calculating how many ‘customers’ they can accommodate.

This holds the key to life and death for many businesses – and people’s jobs.

Two meters (about six feet) is the distance being used.

It poses problems with fitting children into classrooms and economic numbers is pubs and restaurants.

But what is magical about two metres?

It is one metre in France and 1.5 metres in Italy and Germany.

Why are we subjecting ourselves to this when it could be less painful and make a huge difference to our schools and meeting places?

The experts have ruled. And our Government has meekly followed.

Just as with our care and nursing homes.

Revd Brian Strevens

Shirley