Two Conservative Bury MPs have signed a letter against the "circuit breaker" lockdown championed by the Mayor of Greater Manchester.

James Daly, MP for Bury North, and Christian Wakeford, MP for Bury South, have signed a letter along with other Greater Manchester Conservative MPs urging Andy Burnham to "put Greater Manchester first".

The letter says that 2.8 million people have been left in "suspended terror" with no clarity on the current lockdown measures.

The letter states: "We are deeply concerned about your latest position.

"Having moved from outright opposition to 'Tier 3' you have now adopted the Westminster Labour position of calling for a total lockdown, euphemistically called a 'circuit break'.

"We must make it absolutely clear that when you take to social and national media to claim you have the total support of Greater Manchester's MPs you do not have our support for an extreme and poorly thought out programmes of total lockdown.

"We remain unconvinced that the 'circuit breaker' closure of businesses from the Mersey the Humber will somehow arrest the worrying advance in infections.

"As hospitals in Merseyside and Lancashire near capacity we would ask that you set your mind to the very real prospect of this being the case in Greater Manchester in the near future.

"A sensible accommodation can be reached with central government, but this can only be conducted around the negotiating table and not via loud-hailer.

"Rather than following the lead of your London colleagues, you have the opportunity to get an outcome which puts the needs of Greater Manchester first.

"We would urge you to follow the example of local leaders in Merseyside and Lancashire in your party and ours by giving people in our region certainty and clarity rather than the continued chaos of no decision.

"We will work cross party to ensure the best possible package is reached, but this will rely on you also putting aside party political considerations to best serve the public interest."