CUMBRIA'S most senior public health chief, Colin Cox, drew in comment from readers after he urged people in the county to be cautious over the Christmas period.

The comments were made as Cumbria recorded it's highest ever number of cases of Covid-19 in a day.

The new Omicron strain of the virus - known to be far more infectious than is predecessors Alfa and Delta - is now increasing exponentially across the county, with infection rates surging in all areas.

Mr Cox said that he is "slightly optimistic that we won’t see something overwhelming", but added that the NHS is "already stretched, with lots of staff off".

Here's what you, the readers, had to say.

Alex Rayment said: "Johnson only listening to Sunak and Tory Backbenchers sadly - so expect no real support for people or actions to stop cases - until its too late - just like all the other times."

Officials figures show there have been 1,658 deaths put down to covid in Cumbria since the start of the pandemic, though the figure "deaths within 28 days of a covid diagnosis" will be different.