CONFUSION reigned in Northumberland last week as officials waited to hear whether the county would be taken out of the highest tier of restrictions. A review of the tier system was due to take place last Wednesday - but Northumberland County Council were still in the dark about what tier the North-East would be in on Thursday morning. However, with the sharp increase in cases across the Tyne Valley - particularly in Haltwhistle - over recent weeks, the general feeling from most was that the region would remain in tier 3. That feeling was shared by the hospitality industry. Jordon Dodwell, who runs the Greenhead Hotel and Vercelli restaurant in Hexham, has already taken the decision to close his businesses for the rest of the year.