A Grantham area MP has hit out at Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer for not agreeing to a regional lockdown, for fear it may lead to a second national lockdown.

Dr Caroline Johnson, whose Sleaford and North Hykeham constituency covers parts of the Grantham area, is one of around 20MPs who have signed an open letter to the pair, noting their support for a national lockdown.

The letter , noting the much lower rates of cases in their constituencies, called for Mayor Burnham to strike a deal with the government and have a regional lockdown and "avoid the pain of a second national lockdown".

It said: "It does not make sense to shut down the whole country when the virus is spiking in particular locations.

"Our constituents, like yours, have made many sacrifices to get - and keep - the virus under control in our areas."

They added such a national lockdown would be far more damaging to Greater Manchester , it's people and economy, than a regional lockdown.

However, Northern Tory MPs like James Daly of Bury North called the letter 'unnecessary and unhelpful.'

Mayor Burnham told Andrew Marr yesterday it was an "all right Jack " letter.

He continued: " "I would say to them some of them represent constituencies whose cases were higher than ours when we went into national lockdown."

The latest figures yesterday revealed there were 4,974 Covid-19 patients in hospital in England , up from 3,451 a week ago - an increase of 44 per cent.