We are now in our second lockdown.

Make no mistake – no-one wanted to go into lockdown and no-one wanted to see businesses or individuals impacted.

But it is clear from the various different projections from medical experts that if they are even half right, our hospitals and healthcare staff will be overrun with cases imminently.

We have to protect our NHS, all of our healthcare workers through this second spike.

There are already 50 patients with Coronavirus in Clifton Hospital and Coronavirus wards are full at Blackpool Victoria. That situation is clearly going to get worse before it gets better.

I hope this lockdown brings the spread of the virus under control once again.

I met with more people affected by flooding this week – farmers between Lytham and Moss Side and residents in Freckleton. I know there are many people affected in towns and villages. I have again called for the flood authorities to work on a cohesive plan together to stop this flooding. It is clear there are issues for Lancashire County Council, for United Utilities and for the Environment Agency to work on – instead of finger-pointing at each other.

I’m pleased to see this week that Fylde Coun Tommy Threlfall is forming a new body to bring all of those agencies together and I’ll be working with him to raise issues at ministerial level.

I was incredibly sad to hear of the death of Bobby Ball. I met Bobby on a large number of occasions at community events over the years.

He was always mischievous, the life and soul of any event, but above all a very kind and generous man who was willing to give his time to support others.

Every life lost to Covid is a tragedy – please everyone remember to stay at home, save lives and protect the NHS to prevent its spread.