Surrey County Council Leader Tim Oliver has said the authority will "continue to do everything we possibly can" as the country heads into a third lockdown.

In a statement, Cllr Oliver said: "Last night the Prime Minister announced that a new national lockdown would come into effect today, Tuesday 5th January.

"While this news is not wholly unexpected, it has a huge impact on all our lives and it is not the start to 2021 that we had hoped for.

"However, it is clear from public health data and the pressure across our National Health Service that these measures are absolutely necessary in order to save lives.

"I want to reassure everybody in Surrey that the county council will continue to do everything we possibly can to guide our residents and businesses through this latest stage in our response to Covid-19.

"We have been at the forefront of the response here since the first UK transmitted case was reported in Surrey in February last year.

"Together with our partners of the Local Resilience Forum, we have worked tirelessly to protect residents and equip our frontline services.

"We will step up support to the most vulnerable, frontline services, and work with our education providers over the coming days, and continue to communicate openly with residents.

"We will not stop. And together, we will endure again and get through to better days ahead."