Businesses in Tier 1 Hereford and Tier 3 St Albans have revealed how changing Covid rules have left them facing very different prospects over Christmas.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday plunged millions more Brits into lockdown amid growing coronavirus cases across the country.
Hertfordshire was moved from Tier 2 restrictions up to Tier 3, joining the likes of London, Kent and Greater Manchester from Saturday.
But Herefordshire bucked the national trend of doom and gloom during Mr Hancock s announcement, as it was moved from Tier 2 to Tier 1 - the lowest possible alert level in England.
Latest footfall figures released today show the number of shoppers on Britain s High Streets has fallen by nearly 40 per cent compared to this time last year.