The Mayor of Greater Manchester is calling for the region to be placed into tier 2 today.

Andy Burnham said there was a “clear case” for his region being moved down to Tier 2 as the Government is due to formally review what tiers are appropriate for each area.

However, he has also questioned if the tier system is effective the way it is now.

The coronavirus infection rate in Bolton has been falling steadily over recent weeks, which is now down to 142.2 per 100,000.

The highest infection rate in the region is currently seen in Bury which has a rate of 209.4 per 100,000 residents according to latest figures.

Whereas Tameside is recording the lowest coronavirus infection rate in Greater Manchester with a rate of 97.6 per 100,000 people.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: "We have seen steady decreases across all of our boroughs pretty much ever since the last tiering decision, to the point where we are now essentially below the England average across the 10 boroughs – we are at 150 cases on average per 100,000 people, England averages 180.

“We are below London and below Liverpool when they went into Tier 2 originally."

However, he accepted that the government might  “err on the side of caution” with infection rates increasing in other areas of the country.

He added: “I accept the national mood has changed since those decisions were taken and I can also understand if the Government were wanting to err on the side of caution.

“There is a clear case for Greater Manchester, or a large part of Greater Manchester, to be placed in Tier 2.”

Mr Burnhas said after the programme that he's "not at all convinced Tiers 2 & 3 work in the way it is claimed."

He Tweeted: "Allowing 24/7 retail at this time of year is a significant driver of spread. Closing regulated hospitality in cities risks more gatherings in the home, particularly around NYE. The balance isn’t right."