MP encourages people to keep following the rules and get the vaccine after Indian variant detected in Cumbria

Commenting on today's news that the Indian variant of COVID-19 has been detected, according to the county's public health director, Tim said: "The news that the Indian variant has been detected in Cumbria should not be a cause for panic - but we must be careful.

"The easing of restrictions today is massively welcome but we all need to be sensible and remember that the risk of transmission is far lower outdoors.

"But the most important thing that we can all do to protect each other from this virus is to make sure that you get your vaccine when you get you called up.

"It absolutely still is the golden ticket to getting out of this crisis. I'm getting my second dose this weekend and I'm enormously grateful to the NHS workers and volunteers who are working their socks off to roll out the vaccine.

"So when it's your turn make sure you get the jab."