CONSPIRACY theories, anger, and confusion are some of the biggest battles facing officials trying to fight coronavirus, according to one Bolton MP.

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East, says she has seen all three in play across her constituency.

She said: "I've had email from people saying that they're confused about the rules, or angry that there seems to be one rule for one and one for another.

"Some people aren't abiding by the rules on purpose, some because they're angry or because they do think it's a conspiracy.

"I hear from people who say restrictions must be lifted because of contradictory messages or because they're an attack on civil liberties.

"This isn't isolated to Bolton either – this area isn't an exception, you can see these views across the country."

Ms Qureshi and her staff says they have been working long days to answer every query sent to her office, and have seen a variety of issues or qualms from constituents.

Since April, almost 2,300 cases have been closed by the Bolton MP – each one representing a different constituent with a "heartbreaking" crisis to solve.

Mr Qureshi added: "I've spoken to people who were facing some truly heartbreaking problems.

"People need to try and abide by the rules and take some precautions, such as washing their hands and wearing masks.

"It is hard, especially for people who think the measures aren't justified, but I try to explain that we need to leave aside the origin.

"Regardless of what you think, the fact is we do have it in the country and people are getting infected with it, and it can be quite lethal."

Another Bolton MP has said there's "no evidence" coronavirus scepticism was behind a rise in cases in the borough, which is still recording the highest infection rate in the UK.

MP Chris Green, who represents Bolton West, said: "I don't have any evidence to show that these attitudes have been behind the spike in cases across the borough.

"I certainly haven't found that to be the case in my constituency, and I doubt Ms Qureshi's constituents feel much differently.

"No one from Public Health England or any respected authority has put themselves on the record to say they think this has caused this spike, and we don't have any evidence to show that either."