In her latest Trusted Contributor article for Biddulph Nub News, Moorlands MP Karen Bradley talks Eat Out to Help Out, localised outbreaks and social distancing.

This week sees the beginning of the Government's "Eat Out to Help Out" scheme to try and help our cafes, pubs and restaurants.

Diners who eat-in will benefit from a 50% discount, up to a maximum of £10 per person, on food and non-alcoholic drinks, any Monday to Wednesday in August.

No voucher is required and you can find participating outlets who have signed up to the scheme by putting in a postcode on the government online finder here.

This provides a list of participating businesses within a 5 mile radius of that postcode.

At the time of writing, there are 39 businesses within the 5 mile radius of the postcode of my Leek office that had already signed up.

You can take advantage of the scheme as many times as you like during the month of August and it would be so appreciated if you could support our fantastic local restaurants, pubs and eateries who have suffered so much being closed throughout lockdown.

I know however that many of you are concerned about localised outbreaks of Coronavirus in other parts of Staffordshire and the North of England.

We have seen an increase in cases in these areas and some regulations have been reintroduced, enforced by local authorities and the police, in order to prevent the virus spreading further.

It is important that everyone remains alert to the virus to keep it under control. Please continue to follow social distancing and hygiene rules and do get a test if you have symptoms.

I have been pleased to see our town centres busier than before and to see more people out and about. But the Government will act swiftly, as we have seen, if there are local risks and so we should all follow the rules to keep the Moorlands as open as it can be.

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