BRIDGWATER and West Somerset's MP is urging people to use common sense and not travel great distances to visit Somerset this week, despite the easing of lockdown restrictions.

MP Ian Liddell-Grainger says although the rules have changed, people need to use their 'common sense' in making judgements on what sort of trips are acceptable.

And he says, people looking to travel long distances to visit Exmoor and the Quantocks 'really haven't got the message'.

Mr Liddell-Grainger said: "This is how it is: We stayed at home, the NHS survived, and the overwhelming majority got used to no work and a Government that told us exactly what to do.

"Every day merged with every other day but at least there was “furlough” to protect jobs and generous arrangements to soften the blow of enforced idleness.

"We complied obediently and the hideous daily death toll began to fall."

Mr Liddell-Grainger said that on Sunday, the Prime Minister tweaked the rules, meaning it would be fine to go for a longer walk, take a drive, and meet a relative outside.

"With luck some of the children can soon be back at school and if it is impossible to do your job from home then we ought to get back to work," Mr Liddell-Grainger said.

"Carefully, of course, two metres apart if we can and ever alert to the danger."

The Bridgwater MP says Boris Johnson's words on Sunday 'raised eyebrows across Somerset'.

"There were puzzled faces everywhere," Mr Liddell-Grainger said.

"Perhaps lockdown had become a comfortable habit. We are now being asked to think for ourselves.

"It is a shock, but probably a much needed one.

"Any Prime Minister who promises instant solutions and a bottomless pit of money is a liar. It is absurd to expect governments to have all the answers and the cash to cover every cost.

"We all knew that lockdown would not be everlasting.

"The PM wants us to start using that excellent human quality common sense."

Mr Liddell-Grainger called on the populous to behave 'thoughtfully and intelligently' moving forwards.

"If a family from the Midlands believe it is ok to drive all the way down to Exmoor for a dose of day-tripping then they really haven’t got the message," Mr Liddell-Grainger said.

"There are still no hotels open, no B&B’s, no cafés, restaurants.

"Boris wants us to use our brains, do our own risk assessments, think things through and make sensible choices.

"Some countries order their citizens to wear masks. We leave it to common sense. The choice is yours. "But if you value your own life and your family and your neighbours then you will not imperil them by acting thoughtlessly.

"As Del Boy, in Only Fools and Horses, used to say: 'Don’t be a plonker!'"