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Lockdown back in Leicester: Non-essential shops ordered to close from today

Huge setback to businesses in the city as virus continues to run rampant

An empty Highcross shopping centre in Leicester(Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

Leicester has gone back into lockdown with non-essential shops forced to close again to slow the spread of Covid-19 in the city.

There will also be a delay to the national roll-out of openings for bars, restaurants, hairdressers and hotels in the city.

It is a huge blow for shop managers who have been desperately trying to bring shoppers back into the city over the past two weeks to get the local economy moving again.

From Thursday, schools will also be closed to all pupils but the children of key workers.

It comes as figures suggest the city has become a hotspot for the virus, with one in 10 º£½ÇÊÓÆµ cases currently being reported there.

Leicester Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said the Government had offered financial support to help businesses in the city.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has set out specific details of what the Government plans in the city to tackle the spike in recent cases.

Mr Hancock told MPs difficult decisions had been taken to control the virus because the number of new cases was three times higher in Leicester than the next nearest city.