Rutland MP Alicia Kearns says she welcomes the Tier 2 status awarded to Rutland this morning.

The county has achieved the medium rate, whilst neighbouring Lincolnshire and Leicestershire are in the highest level Tier 3 with the strongest of restrictions.

The MP said on twitter: "I welcome that Rutland has been respected as the independent county it is and therefore tiered separately. This also recognises its low COVID-19 rates. I made daily representations over the last two weeks to Ministers to ensure that Rutland would be separately tiered.

"I'm deeply disappointed that Melton and Harborough have been grouped with all of Leicestershire county and especially Leicester city.

"Although our rates are above the national average, and work to be done, they are far below Leicester city. This grouping cannot remain long term."

The MP continued: "I urge residents to get tested at new testing centre in Melton in early Dec & to strictly adhere to the measures in our tiers. If we get our rates down, this will help me make the case to separate Melton from the rest of our County or at least Leicester City come December 16th."

She added: "I made the case to the Prime Minister & Ministers consistently over last two weeks that Leicestershire districts should not be grouped as one, and most certainly not with Leicester, and I am sorry not to have been successful. But I will continue to make the case for next review."