DAILY Echo readers have voiced their opposition to a second lockdown - despite a surge in coronavirus cases and fears of many more deaths.

They warned that another national shutdown would do more harm than good - and would fail to prevent the infection rate increasing once the restrictions were eventually eased.

Asked if Britain needed a second lockdown many readers called for stricter adherence to good hygiene and social distancing rules instead.

Daily Echo:

One woman said too many people would suffer financially and mentally - especially those living alone - if the country went back into lockdown.

She added: "If you loose your job, cannot pay your rent etc, life will not be worth living. A lockdown will bring catastrophic problems to many people."

Another reader added: "I can't see the point in another lockdown.

"Quite apart from more economic upheaval, which it will surely cause, there's the fact that it (coronavirus) isn't going to go away - even the scientists have said that.

"A vaccine could take years, so we live with prohibitive restrictions until there is one? No thanks.

"I'm happy to wear my mask and sanitise/wash my hands. I'm even happy to maintain social distancing, but I'm not happy to continue living under this shadow for months and years to come."

A fellow reader added: "Lockdown or no lockdown, it’s never going to go away.

"It’s something we’re going to have to deal with - closing everything down again is going to do more bad than good.

"If you're vulnerable then take the precautions you need to take. Keep a distance, wear a face covering (if you can) and wash your hands regularly."

Daily Echo:

One man said the first lockdown should have been longer and more sensible.

He added: "You could go to a crowded Tesco but you weren't allowed to go to the beach at 1am for a stroll alone - where is the practicality?

"We're going round in circles - long lockdown or herd immunity.

"If it's decided there's going to be a short lockdown or a longer one with kids at schools, can count me out on that one. I'll be driving and taking a walk at the beach at 1am if I wish to."

Other readers also doubted the wisdom of a second national shutdown.

One woman said: "I don’t see what a four-week lockdown will do. Yes it will slow it down a bit but it took 12 weeks last time to make a difference and then luckily we had summer.

"Three months later it started to rise again and we're back to where we started.

"Four weeks will make no difference, only destroy the economy a bit more. People’s lives are being destroyed either way, either by getting virus or because of the effects on the economy.

"People need to abide by the rules - mask, wash hands and - the biggest thing - distance. Then just maybe we can keep going."