Residents in a town on the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire border have described the challenges of not being able to see family due to new Covid-19 restrictions.
Shirebrook, in Derbyshire, sits very close to the Nottinghamshire border and many people in the town regularly shop and visit Mansfield.
The mining town even comes under a Nottinghamshire postcode, but is governed by both Bolsover District Council and Derbyshire County Council.
At present, the town falls under Tier 1 'medium' risk for Covid-19 measures, meaning people can still meet indoors and in pubs permitting the 'Rule of Six' is met.
However, in neighbouring Mansfield the alert level is 'high', meaning people cannot meet indoors or in other household settings.
Government rules state you cannot visit an area with a higher alert level than your own.
And for people who live in Shirebrook but have family members in Mansfield, it means families are now separated by the border.
Andrew Eaton, 57, from Shirebrook, supports his Mansfield-based parents regularly but does not know when he will see them next.
"I do a lot of work for my mum and dad who live in Mansfield, but they come under the Tier 2 restrictions," he said.
"It doesn't work forming a support bubble because I live in Shirebrook, we're only Tier 1 so I'm not allowed to enter the area at all.
"And I wouldn't want to risk it anyway, because they are in their 70s and vulnerable.
"I have spoken to them but I don't know when I will see them again now."
Karen Dean, 53, lives in Shirebrook but has family in Mansfield and has disabilities which require her children to be her carers.
She says the biggest impact from new restrictions is on the mental health of people like herself.
"Being disabled feels like another way of them shutting us off altogether," she said.
"My sister and my brother are in Mansfield, my family are in Mansfield.
"My children are often my carers and they check in to see me regularly, but that can't happen anymore.
"They do live in Shirebrook but they work all over the place, and it puts them in a position where they can't see me and I can't see them.
"The bigger pandemic they need to be worried about is mental health, and the effect it will all have on people mentally."
Charlotte Pratt, 28, from Mansfield, works at the Shirebrook Homebake store on Market Street and described the changes as "confusing".
She told Nottinghamshire Live: "I've got young nieces and nephews that I can't see anymore.
"My mum is in their support bubble so she can see them but I can't now.
"It's all really confusing. I went out in a group for food on Sunday and we can't even do that anymore. What's the difference today?
"We have got restrictions in place in Mansfield mainly because of Nottingham, but Derby is geographically the same distance if not closer and there are no restrictions there."
Shirebrook shopper Mark Hudson, 58, lives in Chesterfield where 'high alert' restrictions come into force on Saturday (October 17).
However, despite the changes and the new rules, he believes the restrictions are there "for the right reasons".
"I think all we can do at the moment is to follow the guidance as best we can," he said.
"It is going to affect our lives and I know these tier announcements are coming for the right reasons.
"If it affects use then so be it. My main fear is that the tiers are changing and if you asked me what each tier meant I couldn't tell you."
