Tourism and hospitality businesses in Cornwall have joined forces to call on the government to announce when they can reopen.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson previously announced that it was his aim to allow hospitality businesses to start reopening from July 4.

However, with just over a fortnight until that date, no indication has yet been given as to when restrictions could be lifted.

Today the Government announced that its coronavirus alert level had been reduced from 4 to 3 which could herald an announcement.

But councillors and trade representatives say that the announcement should have been made by now to allow businesses time to prepare to welcome customers again.

Cornwall Council Cabinet member Rob Nolan said at a meeting of Cabinet this week: "We need to know long before July 4 how we will open up.

"I have been reading that it will only be allowed 50% capacity. One woman who runs a hotel said that it wouldn't be viable to open on 50% occupancy.

"We need to be told in good time so we can advise businesses and help them.

"We can't just be told on July 1 that we can open on July 4."

Malcolm Bell from Visit Cornwall said yesterday that an announcement on when businesses could reopen could save jobs.

He said that some businesses were making plans for redundancies which could be altered if they know when they can start trading again.

It comes after the owners of the Headland Hotel in Newquay announced yesterday that it would be cutting up to 80 jobs due to the loss of income suffered.

Malcolm Bell: "The frustration about the guidance is about bringing people off furlough or reduce the number of people who might be made redundant.

"Some businesses might be starting redundancy consultation now, but that could change if they know when they can reopen. It will have more job implications."

He said: "Many businesses will be running at reduced capacity – it will be below normal levels.

"The one metre social distancing would make an impact on that.

"The final government guidance still hasn't been released yet, that would have been a great use to us."

However Mr Bell said that trade associations had been issuing advice which had been helpful for businesses as they prepare for reopening.

St Austell Brewery has also joined a national call for clarity on when pubs, restaurants and hotels can reopen.

Kevin Georgel, chief executive of the brewery, said: "Like many other breweries we have been forced to take a significant gamble and start brewing draught beer again to ensure that pubs can reopen on July 4 as per the Government roadmap.

"Cask Ale on average takes three weeks to brew and lager can often take longer. In order for pubs to be able to serve a pint of fresh draught beer that customers have longed for during lockdown, we had to start brewing last week.

"If pubs do not now open on July 4, all of this beer will be lost at huge cost to us during this time of survival. It will join the 70 million pints that were wasted when pubs were forced to close in March.