THE MP for Meon Valley has voiced fears after the Government announcement to move three areas of Hampshire into Tier 3.

Today (Thursday) Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed that from Saturday Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant will be moved into the toughest tier.

MP Flick Drummond has said that she is "fearful" that people in Tier 3 areas may cross into Tier 2 areas causing Covid rates to raise.

She said: "Splitting the Meon Valley into different Covid tiers is not the outcome I wanted but with infection rates so high in Havant borough and Portsmouth, I believe it is the right decision to save lives.

“The positive news is that the Government now feels able to make restrictions more local and businesses in Tier 3 can receive additional financial help, if they are forced to close.

"Rural Meon Valley has low infection rates and it's right, on balance, this area is not pushed into more stringent measures to control the virus. However, I am very fearful people will simply cross the 'restrictions border' to go there to visit restaurants and pubs. This could raise infections in Tier 2 Meon Valley. Sadly, when a similar split has been imposed in other parts of the country, the lower infection area has soon caught up.

“I would therefore urge people in Tier 3 to please adhere to the tighter restrictions from Saturday morning and not travel to Tier 2 unless absolutely necessary, including over the Christmas period.

“I completely understand the frustration of pubs and restaurants in the Havant borough area of the constituency, who will suffer from this decision. The only crumb of comfort I can give is that we have a vaccine and that 2021 looks a far more hopeful proposition than 2020 in terms of dealing with the pandemic.”