A Bolton MP has furthered demands that life 'return to normal' on the date set for coronavirus regulations to be dropped.

Chris Green, MP for Bolton West and Atherton, has been very vocal over recent months that coronavirus lockdown restrictions should be dropped sooner rather than later, despite an increase in cases nationwide.

He spoke in Parliament today to reiterate this call, saying that July 19, the date set by the government for the end of lockdown restrictions after the original June 26 date was delayed, should see a 'full return to normal'

Mr Green said: "The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said that, if the direction of travel in respect of covid data is maintained, we will be able to have our terminus day on 19 July.

"Does my right hon. Friend agree with me that terminus day means an end to social distancing, an end to compulsory mask wearing and a full return to normal, not just for the end of July but permanently?"

Oliver Dowden, the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport replied saying: "We are making very good progress towards 19 July. We are hopeful and, indeed, confident that we will be able to remove, as planned at stage four, all the remaining legal limits on social contact, reopen the remaining closed settings and remove all limits on weddings and other life events. That is very much what I am working towards."