Peterborough MP calls on city to 'show what we are made of' after tier 3 announcement

While Mr Bristow said 'today was not a good day' for the city, he said he was confident that 'we will prevail.'

On a video on his social media channels, he said: ""Today is not a good day for my city. We enter into tier 3 from Saturday and this is something that I hoped could have been avoided.

"It is such disappointing news especially for all those hospitality industries such as bars, pubs and restaurants - and it is y understanding from talking to public health officials here in Peterborough that it is not these venues that are driving infection, in fact there are other reasons such as intergenerational and household mixing and that is why it is so important to follow the rules and to remember hands, face and space.

"But that is the melancholy bit, that is the disappointing bit, the positive element is that there is a way forward, the vaccine is being distributed and rolled out here in Cambridgeshire, and Peterborough City Hospital is one of the first hospitals in the world to get that COVID 19 vaccine, and it is another opportunity Peterborough to show what we are made of.

The coronavirus heroes Facebook page and everyone involved in that effort, and all the charities and businesses, and those who have been donating here in Peterborough have shown what this city is made of.

"We have looked after the vulnerable, we've looked after those who are shielding, and we have looked after our neighbours. And I know that that effort will continue again over Christmas and beyond.

"Peterborough is a very special city and we have shown that through the first and second lockdown and subsequent restrictions and I know we'll do it again, and with mass testing and a vaccine, and everyone following the rules, I know that in 2021, we'll come out, hopefully, of these horrid tier restrictions and get back to normality as quickly as possible.

"We will get through this, and we will prevail."

MP for North West Cambridgeshire Shailesh Vara said: “This is hugely disappointing news for Peterborough and it will have a significant impact on the community and local businesses.

“We are dealing with an invisible and deadly virus, and making decisions on how to deal with it are very difficult.

“The Government is guided by medical and scientific experts and in view of the rise in local infection rates it has been felt necessary to raise the tier level.

“The levels are kept under constant review and I hope that we will be able to lower the local infection rates to achieve a much more favourable outcome soon.”