CHESHIRE East's opposition leader Cllr Janet Clowes has stressed the borough is "not in a state of imminent change" regarding a potential local lockdown.

The Conservative representative also welcomed the government's local lockdown approach as coronavirus cases continue to rise.

Cllr Clowes was responding to a video posted by CEC leader Cllr Sam Corcoran, in which he urged residents to act as they did during the spring lockdown by only going out "when really necessary".

The Labour leader added: "I believe that additional restrictions will be needed and I urge people to only go out where necessary.

"We're not in lockdown in Cheshire East, but please think back to when we were in lockdown."

But Cllr Clowes, who represents Wybunbury, said: "We are still below the national average, but that is creeping up. The officers are on call all weekend and I have no doubt they would let us know.

"We are not in a state of imminent change."

Previously, the council has declined to comment when asked if it would request a local lockdown from the Department for Health, although neighbours Cheshire West and Chester said it had no plans to do so.

Cllr Clowes was full of praise for the government's tactics of only imposing local lockdowns, rather than implementing a UK-wide approach

"I think what the government is doing at the moment is making the best decisions it can with the data it has in the places affected," she said.

"This is too serious not to take a sensible and pragmatic approach to it. If the government is turning round to places like Leicester, Bolton, parts of Wales, it clearly is based on what is a deteriorating situation in terms of rising infection rates.

"This is beyond politics and what's best at a local level."

Crewe and Nantwich MP Kieran Mullan has also criticised Cllr Corcoran's call and labelled it "irresponsible".

He said: "Cheshire East or parts of it may well need to have further restrictions and we should all be taking the rules seriously. But for a council leader to put up a video telling people to go into full lockdown off his own back is not the responsible way to do go about these things.

"It is not clear if this view has been agreed with the Director of Public Health or the outbreak board. It is not clear on what evidence he has asked people to do this. Cheshire East is not subject to intervention and as of last week it was not on the watch list, suggesting it isn't even among the 100 most concerning areas in the country.

"I welcome anyone encouraging us to be careful and vigilant, but we are going to undermine our messages to the public if the council leader sees fit to go it alone and with very extreme messages."