The leader of Bolton Council has reacted to the news that Bolton will be placed under tier 4 restrictions from midnight tonight.

Cllr David Greenhalgh says the tier 4 announcement came with a "degree of inevitability" and that he will continue to push the government for additional business support.

Cllr Greenhalgh said: "Nobody wants additional restrictions, but there was, I'm afraid, a degree of inevitability over today's announcement to move us into Tier 4.

"If it hadn't happened this week, it would have more than likely have happened next.

"Although our rates are some of the lowest in Greater Manchester, they are fluctuating around 150/160 cases for every 100,000. They are not reducing and if we are to get to a position where businesses can reopen with any sense of permanence and sustainability, we need to get our rates down considerably lower than they currently are.

"We can not allow our area to get to the position that London and the South East now find themselves in where they have more cases than some of their hospitals can cope with.

"But I will continue to press government for additional adequate support for businesses.

"It isn't all doom and gloom. We have the fantastic news today of another vaccine, and produced in this country. There is light at the end of the tunnel. But we must continue to follow the guidance in order to get our rates down, contain the variant as best we can and protect our hospitals from being overwhelmed."