Fylde MP Mark Menzies believes support for pubs, restaurants, cafes and hotels is vital as venues face a flurry of cancellations in the face of the Omicron variant.

Advice from the Chief Medical Officer to be cautious about social occasions have led to Christmas parties being cancelled placing pressure on a sector already badly hit by the Covid pandemic.

Mr Menzies believes financial help will be essential to help venues weather another challenging Winter.

He said: “I know how much hospitality businesses in Fylde will have been relying on a busy Christmas to make up for lost time over the past two years,

“They will have got their stock in, made their plans and budgeted for the festive season.

“All that has now changed and it is important Government plans change too.”

Mr Menzies has reached out to hospitality businesses in Fylde to gauge the scale of the challenges they face but already understands the difficult December facing many.

He said: “Even before the Chief Medical Officer gave his advice I was hearing about cancellations.

“But in the last 24 hours things for many businesses will have gone from bad to worse.”

Mr Menzies believes a package of help from the Government may now be necessary to keep companies afloat.

“I am already talking to Ministers about this, making clear the needs of businesses in Fylde, many of which are family owned.

“For many the money they make now is crucial to surviving January and February.

“I have no doubt that in the coming weeks they will need our support and the Government needs to deliver a plan to help sooner rather than later.

“That is the message I will be making clear.

“The Government showed with furlough and business rate relief it can make a difference.

“We need a similar effort now to protect this trade which is vital for Fylde’s economy.”