Hitchin MP Bim Afolami has called for non-contact sports to be allowed during lockdown.

Our town's parliamentarian wrote a letter to the Secretary of State, Oliver Dowden, seeking non-contact sports to be permitted as soon as possible.

While the government and the FA confirmed last week that all adult and children's grassroots football is suspended in England during the national Covid lockdown - including Hitchin Town, Arlesey Town, Stotfold and numerous youth and academy teams and clubs in and around north Herts, Mr Afolami believes other sports should be allowed.

He said: "I have written to ask that physical and mental public health be considered carefully when lockdown restrictions go under review and for non-contact sports that can be pursued in safe, socially distanced settings to be permitted.

"I wholeheartedly support the call for some sports to be allowed to continue, particularly those non-contact, outdoor sports which can safely be enjoyed.

"Not all team sports are conducive to social distancing, but some sporting pursuits such as tennis, golf and swimming could be continued without exposing participants to infection."

Current lockdown restrictions will run until Wednesday, 2 December.