The owner of a popular pub says the industry is being "penalised" during the second lockdown due to the amount of shops selling non-essential items that are still open.

The Swan at Stoford reopened in September under new ownership and management but, like other pubs, had to close on Thursday last week when lockdown 2 came into force.

But lockdown this time feels very different. Schools and universities are still open, shops selling a wide range of items (not just essentials) have continued to operate and streets are busy.

Owner Wendy Wooller, 50, said: "We're sitting here waiting to reopen, there is nothing we can do, we're all in the same boat. We're all hoping and praying we'll be allowed to reopen on the 2nd but it's disgusting that everything out there is allowed to carry on.

"When I went to town it was manic, there were no signs of any restrictions anywhere and so many places are allowed to carry on just because they sell a bit of food.

"We're being penalised completely when we're one of the safest environments you could go to with all the rules we have to follow yet you can walk around Tesco, pick things up and put them back down, do as you please, you can go to the Range and look at bits and pieces for Christmas... I'm feeling quite bitter about the whole thing, it's getting to the point where we are being penalised no matter what's going on."

According to the publican, business at The Swan had just started to pick up when restrictions were imposed.

Although pubs are allowed to sell takeaway beer and food, Wendy says "it's not worth doing" as there needs to be substantial demand for a takeaway service to be viable.

While government grants may be available for businesses impacted by the restrictions, that might not be the case for The Swan.

Wendy said: "We're a new business so I don't know if we're eligible but even if we are, it's never going to cover rent let alone all the other costs."

MP John Glen said: “Throughout the pandemic we have had to introduce rules and regulations that cover broad areas of the economy. It is not possible to create a bespoke set of restrictions for each individual business based on their unique situation. But overall we have been guided in this second lockdown by the aim of preventing people mixing inside with others who do not live in their household.

"I appreciate that hospitality businesses and pubs have been particularly badly affected by this but we had to tackle a rising number of infections. That is why we have introduced a suite of economic support measures to help establishments which have had to close."