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Staff at Birmingham-based bar and pub chain Mitchells & Butlers have been put under consultation.

The company, which owns and manages household names such as Toby Carvery, Harvester and All Bar One, has begun a redundancy process, according to reports.

Listed M&B owns around 1,700 pubs and restaurants and has 44,000 employees but has not yet said how many jobs are at risk of being axed.

A spokesperson told the BBC: "Our industry is operating in exceptionally challenging and uncertain circumstances.

"With trading restrictions and uncertainty likely to continue for the foreseeable future, we strongly urge the Government to step up the level of support it is offering to an industry which has been repeatedly singled out and taken the full brunt of restrictions."

The move comes as the Government introduced new rules yesterday which will see pubs closed in some parts of the country while others will continue operating under the 10pm curfew.

In the West Midlands, Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton have been classed as 'high’ alert level areas, also known as tier 2.

This classification bans households from mixing in indoor settings, including their own homes and venues such as cafes and bars, but does allow household mixing outdoors.

People must also not meet in a group of more than six outside, including in a garden or other space.

The number of journeys being made should also be reduced and people are being encouraged to walk or cycle where possible or avoid busy times and routes on public transport.