A PUB manager is urging people to "protect their local pubs" after the latest coronavirus restrictions have come into force.

St Helens and the wider region was placed under Tier Three restrictions, the top 'very high alert' level by the government.

The restrictions mean pubs and bars can only remain open where they operate as if they were a restaurant.

The landlord at Greene King pub The Gerard Arms Mark Hayes says the Dentons Green pub will remain open serving meals to customers.

St Helens Star:

But has urged people to support their local pubs, when possible, to help them during the crisis. He likened working in the hospitality industry at the moment to "a game of chess".

READ > Gym owner brands tighter coronavirus restrictions 'a joke'

"We are very confident in our practices and we are a very safe place," said Mark.

"Service is being done from your table and as we have track and trace as you come in.

"We do operate serving meals so it is not as if we are changing from a pub to a restaurant, we did operate as that so it not much different.

"It is like a game of chess in this industry at the moment.

"We have got the hashtag #protectyourlocal and I'm deadly serious about that, because some businesses will fail. Protect your local and eat at our pubs when you can.

"It is a safe environment."