The Mail readers have had their say on the Government's announcement yesterday which placed Barrow - and all of Cumbria - in Tier 2. This places the county in a number of restrictions when lockdown comes to an end on December 2.

Michael Vandom said: "Hopefully all business affected by these restrictions and discrimination get together and sue the government! Barrow stuck the rules got the rates down and we're getting punished because of Carlisle."

Stuart Harrison said: "People sitting in a packed out Witherspoon's abusing the eat to drink rule is safe. But keeping open pubs and working men's clubs who only get a handful of regulars sat socially distanced isn't. Absolutely bonkers."

Steven Robinson said: "I feel sorry for the pubs that don’t serve food, won’t be many of them left in the new year."

Eddie Pullin said: "Party on I say sick of it all."

Colin Barnes 'Barney' said: "Tier 2: High alert. This is for areas with a higher or rapidly rising level of infections, where some additional restrictions need to be in place. In tier 2: you must not socialise with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place."

Nerys Curtis said: "I totally don’t get the logic of this rule,because there isn’t any, the poor landlords/ladies of the ordinary just have a drink pubs to be closed down especially at this time of the year when they can claw back some of their losses is disgraceful."

Graeme Lee said: "It's bonkers, but just thinking as a previous business owner, I don't get why all these pubs and bars don't just sell a random hot meal? Would only have to do one substantial meal and can then reopen? Unless they have to apply for food licenses."

Wanda Forrest said: "Small pubs don’t always have kitchen facilities and would need food hygiene certificates etc, it’s all so confusing. We should have been put into strict lockdown at the start, others countries did it and now have it under control."