SPECULATION is growing around plans to relax Coronavirus restrictions during the festive period.

If the plans are given the green light, Barrow residents, as well as those across the whole of the UK could expect to see the relaxed restrictions kick in on Christmas Eve.

National reports claim the ease of restrictions could last for up to five days, giving families the opportunity to mix in what could be the most relaxed rules to be in place since the Coronavirus lockdown was first declared in March.

The move could come at a time where many families and individuals are struggling with their mental health, due to financial pressures and isolation.

Ormsgill councillor Bill McEwan said: "I would welcome this because families have been kept apart for too long, and Christmas is a family time.

"It is a time that we all get together, and even without giving gifts it is just a time of love.

"My daughter is a school teacher in Birmingham and she couldn't get home for half-term which she normally does during any holiday time, and it is her birthday next week and we won't see her for that - so I would welcome this with open arms.

"Mental health is a bad thing at the best of times and with this lockdown there is more struggle.

"This second lockdown is worst than the first because we have dark nights, it's cold and you can't get out for a nice walk, and last time it was the beginning of summer with beautiful weather so people could sit in their gardens if they had one or go for a walk outside in the sun.

"It's really hard times. I hope that they could reduce restrictions for more than five days, but it is what it is."

Dr Susan Hopkins, the medical adviser to the Government’s Covid-19 response, suggested tougher restrictions could be needed either side of Christmas if curbs are to be eased over the festive period.

She told a Downing Street briefing: “We are very keen that we have a Christmas as close to normal as possible.

“That requires all of us to make every effort over this national restriction period and even in early December to get the cases as low as possible and to reduce the risk of transmission within households and between families. She added that ministers are working on what the “new tiers” will be after the anticipated easing date for lockdown and on a plan for Christmas.

Deputy chief scientific adviser Dame Angela McLean indicated the Sage advisory panel had been examining potential relaxation of measures over Christmas.

Asked whether households mixing could be allowed if there were other trade-offs,

Dame Angela said: “What’s really important is we go into a festive week when we want to mix with our friends and our family with the number of infections in the community as low as possible.”

Dr Susan Hopkins told the Downing Street briefing that Sage scientific advice indicated that “for every day that we release (measures) we will need two days of tighter restrictions”.

“So, coming into Christmas we need to be very careful about the number of contacts that we have, to reduce transmission before Christmas and get our cases as low as possible. Hopefully the Government will make the decision that will allow us to have some mixing.”