A message has been issued to Northumberland residents ahead of restrictions easing on Monday.

From Monday, May 17 indoor meetings will be on the cards again, as will hugging family members and enjoying food and drink in a pub or restaurant, as well as a host of other leisure activities.

However, Northumbria Police are warning people to be cautious amid a return to some semblance of normality.

Neil Hutchinson, Assistant Chief Constable said: “The fact we have reached this point, is in no small part down to the resilience you all continue to show in following the rules and guidance in place to help protect our communities from the spread of Covid-19.

“Combined with the monumental efforts of our colleagues in the NHS to ensure the ongoing successful roll-out of the vaccination programme, we are seeing far lower infection rates, and ultimately lives are being saved.

“Like you, we are all looking forward to once again being able to meet family and friends in our homes and enjoy socialising in a bar or restaurant without having to brave the elements.

“With more businesses opening their doors, we also look forward to welcoming even more people into our wonderful towns and cities.

“We would ask that you too take steps to help ensure everyone has the opportunity to enjoy these latest changes and look out for the safety of yourself and others.

“Whether that means making sure you have suitable plans in place to get home from an evening out or just being increasingly mindful of those around you while visiting any of the popular destinations we have here in the region – we all have a part to play.

“It is also important we all remember that some restrictions do remain – and now is not the time to push boundaries and disregard those measures which are in place to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities.

“We absolutely want people to be able to enjoy the new-found freedoms but please let us not jeopardise the substantial efforts which have already been made to get us to this point.

“We owe it to ourselves and each other to ensure we remain on course for the further lifting of restrictions in June.”

It is expected that the final lifting of lockdown restrictions will be on June 21, when all remaining restrictions will be lifted.