SEEK help and don't struggle during lockdown is the message given to Winsford residents today.

Deputy Mayor Cllr Nathan Pardoe wants to reassure everyone that support is available.

The Wharton councillor and member of Cheshire West and Chester Council is keen to ensure that families, workers, businesses and schoolchildren reach out if they need food, financial support, practical help or advice.

"People are more worried now than in March," said Cllr Pardoe. "Personally, I was terrified watching the Covid case numbers rise as high as they are. To see seven days of cases of more than 50,000 is a worry.

"In March, other people had it. Now people are saying it is my neighbour, my friend, my family member. It is affecting everyone, people are understandably very scared. It is closer to home."

The focus now, he stressed, is on making sure that the right support gets to people who need it most.

"Support is there," said Cllr Pardoe. "You've got to seek help if you need it. We're feeding more people at the foodbank than ever before, due to the pandemic, but it is easy to be referred and it is for everyone. Don't wait for things to deteriorate, food is there for people who need it.

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"There is plenty of food, thanks to community support."

As a self employed software developer, he says he can relate to fears faced by many people struggling to work at home, facing furlough or unemployment.

"I can't grumble, I can work remotely but for many people, particularly in hospitality and retail, it is very difficult," said Cllr Pardoe. "Independent businesses are struggling but funding is available from both councils. Don't wait until things are at crisis point."

Married to a teacher with a son at primary school, he understands the pressures facing parents now that schools are closed.

"It is tough," he said. "I understand the worries parents had about kids going back. I don't think anyone wants restrictions but they are necessary. Everyone wants kids in schools but we have to protect the community from transmission.

"National lockdown is more effective than the tiering system and it is the right thing to do."

Rolling out the vaccination programme, he believes, is the only long term solution.

"The vaccine is there and means there is a way out," said Cllr Pardoe. "Boris Johnson said he hopes that the top four tiers of people eligible will receive their first dose by mid February. It's a timetable I hope the government will stick to.

"The mental health side effects of all this will not be known for a long time. It will be a painful experience for a lot of people. Recovery for businesses will take time.

"It's now about doing what we can to keep people safe until the vaccine is there."