AN emergency meeting will be held by health chiefs in Bolton - following a spike in coronavirus cases.

Restrictions were set to be eased in the borough on Wednesday to come in to line with the rest of the UK and other Greater Manchester towns, such as Wigan.

Stockport, Trafford, Burnley and other areas of Lancashire and Yorkshire were also set to have their restrictions eased.

However, a recent surge in cases, jumping from 17.4 to 44.2 per 100,000 people between August 24 to 28 has created a lot of cause for concern for council leaders so close to the planned easing of restrictions later this week.

Bolton Council leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh, confirmed that he has been in a number of meetings and constant communication with council officers about how to react to this increase in cases, having advocated the easing of restrictions last week.

Cllr Greenhalgh said: “I have been in direct communication with council officers this morning about the concerning sudden unpredicted rise in positive cases in the borough.

“Heath officials are collating the current data to provide the full picture for an emergency meeting for officers and the cabinet, set for first thing on Tuesday, to examine the data in detail and look at the implications.”

The easing of restrictions on Wednesday September 2 would have meant that people would be allowed to visit other households outside their bubble again and more businesses, including casinos, bowling alleys and beauticians could fully operate again.

Bolton Labour group leader Cllr Nick Peel said: “There was always a danger on taking a short term view on the figures.

“The danger is that if Bolton is taken out of a lockdown when figures are rising and restrictions have to be reimposed the public won’t be very happy about it and may just get sick and tired of it.

“We always needed to be careful when asking for Bolton to be released as it only takes one spike in the number of cases and restrictions will have to be brought back.

“The cases were always fluctuating so we needed to take a more long term view of the figures before deciding to be released.

“We may not even be released now which is probably the right decision.”