BARS and restaurants in West Cumbria will be left counting the cost of another coronavirus lockdown.

On Monday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said pubs were to close their doors again in a bid to stop the new variant of the virus spreading.

It’s expected to go on until at least mid-February, with alcohol takeaway sales also now banned.

Sue Eccles, manageress of the Trout Hotel, Crown Street, Cockermouth said that more notice could have been given.

She added: “I think it is necessary and with things as they are it was expected.

“But from our point of view, to announce the closure straight after the new year, when we have bought stock – and in terms of managing bookings – we are all in limbo at the moment in terms of being closed until February or March. It is how far you cancel bookings going forward.”

Peter Blake, owner of Jack’s Surf Bar, on Maryport Road, Allonby, said the bar was ‘ticking over’ selling takeaway meals.

He added: “I agree about the pubs being closed. It was a terrible 2020 and I think things are only going to get worse.

“Everyone is stuck with beer – and bars are legally not allowed to sell it, but they can give it away. It’s to stop young people congregating outside the pub, but Boris may find that it’s minus two outside and there are no youngsters apart from those on the caravan sites in summer.”