GREATER Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has called on the government to bring in a short “circuit breaker” national lockdown to help bring the spread of coronavirus under control.

In an online press conference yesterday Mr Burnham cast doubt on the Covid-19 alert tier system in stemming the flow of cases across the country.

He also maintains that the economic support the region received to help businesses who have been forced to closed under the tier 3 restrictions is not enough.

Mr Burnham said: “I do not think the regional lockdown approach will work.

“I think a national circuit breaker which is now in countries like Wales would present less pain for much more gain.

“When we met the deputy chief medical officer we were told a national lockdown is certain to work and a regional lockdown might not work.

“I hope the government won’t dig in on it.”

The mayor also released figures, which showed that although Greater Manchester’s spread of new cases is slightly above the national average of 40 per cent, there are other areas in the country which have much larger rates.

Deputy mayor, Baroness Beverley Hughes, also said the first weekend of tier 3 restrictions in Greater Manchester was a “very busy” one for police.

A total of 157 fixed penalty notices were handed out for breaches of the rules.

There were 373 reports of house parties and large outdoor gatherings as well.

The deputy mayor said the number of reports showed residents’ concerns over people breaking the restrictions but also that many were not complying with the regulations.

Baroness Hughes also hopes that the speed in which police can take stronger enforcement action at premises which are breaking the rules is due to be boosted next week by regulations set to go through in Parliament.

The mayor is also calling on people to support the oneGM campaign to back suffering businesses.