LABOUR MPs have responded to Conservative calls for the Tees Valley to move out of Tier 3 next week by saying rates of infection are "simply too high".

A joint statement by Labour's Alex Cunningham, Andy McDonald and Mike Hill said it would be wrong to relax restrictions.

They said: "The rates of infection across the Tees Valley are simply too high and it would be wrong to relax restrictions at this critical moment. The rolling out of vaccinations is fantastic news and an incredible triumph for science, but it's going to be some time yet before the vaccination programme is completed.

"We all want a normal Christmas but that's just not going to be possible this year. Local Tory MPs would be better advised to join with us and lobby the Government for better financial support for our Tees Valley businesses and workers as they stick to the rules rather than irresponsibly and recklessly arguing for lower restrictions that will only cause a spike in cases in the new year and risk overwhelming the NHS.

"The end of the pandemic is in our grasp and we shouldn't be doing anything that would cause it to last a minute longer than necessary."

On Wednesday, Tory MPs Peter Gibson, Jacob Young, Simon Clarke, Matt Vickers and Paul Howell met with health secretary Matt Hancock to press the case for moving Tees Valley from Tier 3 restrictions when they are reviewed next Wednesday, December 16.

Cases had been falling across the area but in recent days daily rises have been reported.