Cornwall and the Isle of Wight said they still “welcome visitors” from Tier 2 areas, despite concerns people may travel there to take advantage of looser coronavirus restrictions.

Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly are the only locations to be placed in Tier 1 - which has some of the loosest restrictions and allows households to mix indoors up to a maximum of six people.

Malcolm Bell, chief executive of Visit Cornwall, said the county had only seen a ten per cent rise in visitor numbers following last week’s announcement that it would be one of only three parts of England to be placed into Tier 1 rules.

Following the lifting of the first national lockdown in July, traffic to the area “doubled overnight”, Mr Bell said.

READ NEXT: 

However, he said fears of an influx to the area this time had yet to be realised.

He told the PA news agency: “We coped with 180,000 to 200,000 extra people in August.

“The maximum we would talk about this time of year is 20,000 if that. So people would be welcome as long as they abide by the rules, and the age profiles of people visiting this time of year, they are likely to be most compliant.”

Mr Bell added: “For the pubs, it’s better in Cornwall because locals can go without having to eat a substantial meal or a Scotch egg any time they buy a pint.

“The challenge comes in the evening when you live near the border - because people can walk across the boundary.

“But you can tend to spot visitors.”

Devon and Cornwall Police have launched ten extra patrol cars. A spokesperson for the force said their “sole purpose will be to respond to Covid-related matters and these vehicles are additional to current response levels”.

Falmouth Packet:

Chief executive of Visit Isle of Wight Will Myles told the PA news agency: “We are not saying stop and don’t come, but we are not actively rushing out there and saying come and visit the island.

“But our businesses are here and they need that support, so come and enjoy them, there’s no problem with that whatsoever.”

Anyone travelling from a Tier 2 area has to follow the same rules as the area they came from, including a ban on household mixing indoors.

Those living under Tier 3 restrictions have been asked not to travel to any Tier 1 region.