BORIS Johnson has come under fire after his decision to reopen pubs in England sparked chaotic scenes.

A major easing of lockdown measures saw pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas opening their doors again under modified social distancing regulations.

The Prime Minister had urged urged people to “enjoy summer safely”.

However, pub goers on so-called “Super Saturday” were seen spilling out onto the streets in huge numbers in several towns and cities across England, with little or no social distancing or face mask wearing evident.

The chairman of the Police Federation has concluded that drunk people are unable to properly socially distance. John Apter said it was "crystal clear" revellers do not adhere to the one-metre plus rule.

Apter, who was on shift in Southampton where he dealt with "naked men, happy drunks, angry drunks, fights and more angry drunks", said: "What was crystal clear is that drunk people can't/won't socially distance. It was a busy night but the shift managed to cope. I know other areas have had issues with officers being assaulted."

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English chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said the pandemic "is a long way from gone" and had urged the public to follow social-distancing rules as pubs and restaurants reopened. But images from London's Soho showed packed streets into the early hours of Sunday.

Rafal Liszewski, a store manager at Clonezone on Soho's Old Compton Street, described crowds in the area last night as "out of control".

"Around 1pm crowds started to arrive ... quickly everything got out of control and by 8-9 pm it was a proper street party with people dancing and drinking," the 36-year-old told the PA news agency.

"Barely anyone was wearing masks and nobody respected social distancing ... to be honest with that many people on one street it was physically impossible."

Liszewski estimated there was between two and three thousand people on Old Compton Street.

Marc Foley-Comer said the bars he went to in Soho had "excellent safety measures" and social distancing in place, but the scenes outside resembled London's mobbed Pride celebrations.

"It was packed ... it was like it was Pride – and very chaotic and people were pretty drunk but the police were enforce and doing a good job," he told PA. "We decided to leave as it was too busy and too risky still ... there was no social distancing."

There was disorder in north Nottinghamshire too, where four people were arrested and several pubs decided to close after alcohol related anti-social behaviour. Meanwhile, Cleveland Police broke up an illegal forest rave and Devon and Cornwall forces received more than 1000 complaints of mostly drink-related disorder In response to videos of packed streets outside pubs in London, immigration lawyer and TV host Harjap Bhangal hit out at Johnson.

“Our PM said he relies on the British Public to use their common sense ... This is a result of the Govt's mixed messages … no masks in sight ... no distancing ... a proper shitshow...”

Such sentiments were echoed by scores of angry onlookers. One Twitter user posted: “I don't know what you expected to happen @BorisJohnson but all of us knew this was going to be the result … Pubs should've been the absolute last thing to reopen!”

SNP MP Douglas Chapman tweeted: The @scotgov plan is to eliminate the virus. England’s administration has a different objective-herd immunity. A #SecondWave is predicted in England due to non-face covering & early lockdown easing. Why we need a campaign to #TakeBackControl #StaySafe & deliver #IndyRef2”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock claimed the easing of lockdown restrictions in England had been a “success” and said the vast majority of people who went out on so-called Super Saturday acted in accordance with the health guidance.

Speaking on Sky's Ridge On Sunday, he said: "Well I think that from what I've seen, although there's some pictures to the contrary, very, very largely people have acted responsibly.

"The large proportion of people, the vast majority of people are, I think, doing the right thing".