POLICE officers will patrol outside pubs and restaurants to make sure people are complying with the new 10pm curfew.

Under new rules announced by prime minister Boris Johnson, licensed premises will have to close earlier in an effort to halt further spread of coronavirus.

Andy Doyle said: "I thought the pattern of the last few years was for younger people to pre-load on alcohol and then go out after midnight. Whereas us old farts are normally tucked up in bed by half eleven. We should encourage that behaviour. Social distancing by way of the natural generation gap. This particular regulation is counter intuitive, and will inevitably lead to busier pubs and subsequent cross infection."

Jamie Wilson said: "If all pubs are operating at lower capacities and providing table service only - having to wear a mask to enter, exit and move around for the toilet then I disagree. The only people you are going to be in close contact with is the people in your bubble."

Nigel James Stephenson said: "Surely adults are capable of using there own common sense with out having to waste police time."

Mark Gillen said: "Ridiculous and will undoubtedly provoke more trouble than it prevents!"

Terry Vickers said: "What a boring life they must live patrolling pubs and restaurants."

Linda Hall said: "I think the police have much more urgent criminal cases to pursue than checking petty cases involving people and pubs having more than six people in their presence for heavens sake!"

Terry Vickers said: "This is going too far. Police were in town yesterday walking into the shops and handing out 200 quid fines. Are they thinking they're traffic warden's now?"

Nigel James Stephenson said: "Surely adults are capable of using there own common sense with out having to waste police time."

Richard Taylor: "This whole thing has gone too far. The restrictions are unnecessary and we all hoped that we were past all this?"