A prominent Hertfordshire firefighter has urged the public to follow Covid guidelines as cases continue to rise.

With Hitchin and the whole country under a third national lockdown as coronavirus infection rates soar, fears are that the pandemic could threaten the NHS.

With all but essential shops open, as companies are forced to shut and many workers put on furlough or working from home, Darryl Keen, director of community protection, chief fire officer and chair of the strategic coordination group of the local resilience forum has urged caution.

He said: "Act as if you and everyone you meet has coronavirus. I ask, do you want to be part of the problem or part of the solution?

"We need everyone to act now and take this lockdown seriously, not bending the rules to suit your needs.

"The rise in cases of coronavirus in Hertfordshire continues and we all need to act now to stop the spread, the more we do now to support the lockdown, the sooner it will be over."

Mr Keen added that the health services in Hertfordshire are doing an amazing job to treat so many people, "but I can assure you that the risk to the community is very real and there is immense pressure on the health system.

"Please do not be naïve enough to think that this cannot affect you, we must all play our part."