Ashby MP Andrew Bridgen has predicted a quick return to Tier 2 for North West Leicestershire if coronavirus cases in the district remain low.

Mr Bridgen, the Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire, said he was lobbying for the area not to be included in the same tier as Leicester, where rates have been high in recent months.

Andrew Bridgen says region should be taken out of Tier 3

But on Monday, he revealed on Twitter that he had been in talks with Health Secretary Matt Hancock and appeared confident that North West Leicestershire could be back in Tier 2.

The area was placed in Tier 3 following November's national lockdown - but there is a review on Wednesday.

But Mr Bridgen tweeted: "Matt Hancock just confirmed in the House of Commons the assurance he gave me at the weekend.

"Leicester and Leicestershire will be looked at separately.

"We are being decoupled from Leicester and should be in Tier 2 soon if infection rates remain low. Result."

Since the weekend, the Government has said that a new strain of coronavirus has emerged, forcing London and the south-east into Tier 3.

The figures for North West Leicestershire on Monday were as follows:

• Cases in the last seven days: 134

• Current seven-day infection rate: 129.3

• Current seven-day infection rate in the over 60s: 144.7

Leicestershire's director of public health Mike Sandys said it is hard to predict what will happen when the current tier 3 restrictions are reviewed.

He said: "If you were doing a score card you would say we have three goods, one average and one maybe.

"It's better than what it was three weeks ago but is it enough?

"Do you need all five looking brilliant for someone to decide you can go down a tier? "I don't know.

"It's a balance."