Your verdict on whether the North East should be put into a local lockdown

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More than three quarters of residents would back a local lockdown in the North East as coronavirus cases continue to soar, according to a ChronicleLive survey.

However, less than 10% believe people would follow the rules if tighter restrictions were imposed in the region.

Boris Johnson announced on Wednesday that social gatherings of more than six people will be illegal in England from Monday in a bid to curb the rise in coronavirus cases.

The new laws follow a sharp rise in infection rates which has prompted warnings from council leaders and public health experts that a local lockdown is a real possibility.

Sunderland now has the second highest coronavirus infection rate in England after 209 cases were confirmed in the seven days to September 7 - a rate of 75.3 cases per 100,000 population.

According to the same NHS data Gateshead now has the 13th highest number of cases in the country with 55.8 cases per 100,000 people.