a warning that dog owners are pretending their lockdown pets are strays, in order to get rid of them. good evening and welcome to bbc news. a prominent adviser to the government on covid—19, is urging the public to do everything possible, to reduce transmission of the virus. professor peter openshaw, says infection and death rates are currently "unacceptable," and he's very fearful there could be another "lockdown christmas." the government maintains that at the moment there's no need for stricter covid measures, and is encouraging all those who are eligible, to get their boosterjabs. yunus mulla reports from the wirral: