Almost 200 businesses have now been ordered to close in Cornwall since January after being reported for breaching Covid rules.

Councillor Rob Nolan, portfolio holder for environment and public protection, gave the update at the latest Covid briefing from Cornwall Council.

He said Covid enforcement teams continued to carry out checks to ensure businesses are following the rules.

Non-essential and close contact business such as hairdressers, barbers and nail salons should be closed. Hospitality businesses are restriction to selling takeaways.

Cllr Nolan said that in the first week of February there were 19 non-essential businesses closed by enforcement officers.

This takes the total number shut down for flouting closure regulations to almost 200 since the start of January this year.

A further 40 advisory warnings were given and one fixed penalty notice, carrying a £1,000 charge.

This was handed to a barber shop last week, after council officers found staff cutting a customer's hair in a screened area of the shop.

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Cllr Nolan said: "We will not hesitate to take action against any businesses disregarding the rules and putting our county at risk.

"We must all do our bit to stop this virus from claiming lives.

"I would ask anyone who sees a business operating illegally to report it to the Covid team on 0300 123 1118, email covid19@cornwall.gov.uk or via the council website."