SOME schools in Warrington are seeing around half of pupils still attending despite lockdown.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered a national lockdown last Monday, saying schools must close apart from children of key workers or those classed as vulnerable.

But Warrington Borough Council says between 20 and 30 per cent of children are still in school – with the figure as high as 50 per cent in some cases.

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The figure is far higher than the first lockdown in March and the second in November.

There are also far more children in key stage one – infants – than other school years.

Council chief executive Steven Broomhead said the new lockdown is 'more permissive' with 'confusing' messages from government.

He added: "This is more of a liberal lockdown.

"It is more permissive, the definition of a key or essential worker has been widened to include more people. If you have looser restrictions, what are people supposed to do.

"So there are more children in schools than in lockdown one or two."

He also said the number of motorists on the road is double that of the first lockdown.

He added: "More people are out and about in terms of exercising – and sticking to the rules as well.

"We are seeing twice as many people on the roads as the first lockdown. We had around 10 per cent of normal journeys in March, now it is more than 20 per cent.

"People have been confused with all the different messages they have been getting.

"But the rules now are stay at home and essential travel. We don't want mixed messaging."