Many "expect" Kirklees to be placed under Tier 3 restrictions when the second national lockdown ends on December 2, an MP told Parliament.

On Thursday, the Government is set to announce which of the three tiers each part of the country will be in.

The whole of West Yorkshire had been due to go into Tier 3 earlier this month before the current national lockdown was announced.

Speculation is rife that a similar destiny may await the county this time around, although many officials have remained tight-lipped as to what they expect.

However, a West Yorkshire MP has given a strong indication of the current thinking.

Speaking in a debate on the winter plan on Monday, Jason McCartney (Colne Valley, Con), said: "With a case rate of 552 per 100,000 and the sixth highest case rate in England, many people expect Kirklees to be in the highest tier when the announcement is made on Thursday.

"That will mean the closure of hospitality, apart from takeaways, at a time of year when many cafés, bars, pubs and restaurants try to make profits to see them through the rest of the year.

"Can I end this session by asking the Prime Minister one more time: please will he speak to the Chancellor again about support for the hospitality supply chain and for breweries and cider producers; will they look again at grant funding; and will they please consider once again cancelling business rates for another year to support our hospitality businesses?"

The Prime Minister replied: "My hon. Friend makes a passionate plea for breweries, cider producers and others. I know that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor will be listening keenly to all of that, particularly the points about business rates and other measures. We want to support the hospitality industry in Kirklees and across the country."

A day after Mr McCartney addressed the House of Commons, the infection rate in Kirklees fell to 430.7 cases per 100,000 - making it the tenth worst in England according to Tuesday's figures.

But it remained the worst-affected part of West Yorkshire, with Bradford next with 405.7 cases per 100,000 - making it England's 17th worst-affected district.

However, the figures represented a significant reducation for both Kirklees and Bradford when compared to the previous week.