HOSPITALITY bosses have hit out at the Government announcement to extend lockdown for another four weeks.

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference last night, Boris Johnson blamed the delay of easing of lockdown restrictions on the spread of the Delta variant across the country.

It is believed that the four-week extension to July 19 will allow for 10 million more coronavirus vaccines to be administered.

Michael Hales, owner of the Railway in Bromley Cross - and also wedding venue Hawthorns in Blackrod, says that his business is now on a “knife-edge”.

He said: “It’s just madness. In June and July, we’re fully booked for weddings, so I hope the PM announces some sort of guidance which allows these events to go ahead. If not, I think people will be up in arms.

“My biggest fear is that this is going to go on and on through summer.

“There’s no rhyme or reason behind this extension of lockdown. We are now organising our operation on a knife-edge.”

David Carney, the manager of the Crofters in Bradshaw, has said that the company will struggle to make profits this year - and this it is more of a case of ensuring the business can survive.

He said: “It means we have got added stress and it’s going to be tough.

“We have bought thousands of pounds’ worth of stock and we’ve invested in staffing - now we’re going to have to rethink everything.

“It’s the constant stop and start that has been so difficult. We were hoping to salvage something during the summer, so this extension to lockdown will make things tougher for us.

“We just don’t know what’s around the corner, but we will just have to live with it.”

Bolton Council leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh, said: “I’ve been very consistent in my view that while there is clear evidence that shows the vaccine to be helping hospitalisations remain low, and serious illness is being prevented, we should press ahead and open up as soon as we can, while accepting personal responsibility.”