Bike shops have been kept on list of key businesses that should stay open, but the decision is causing real anguish for Radstock's local bike shop.

At what would have been his busiest time,with the arrival of the spring cycling season after a record breaking wet winter, the owner has just four bikes in for repair.

Harsh enough economic realities but the situation is further complicated because the owner of the long established and hugely popular shop, Lee Phillips, is self employed.

So when he heard on Monday night that all non core businesses would have to close, the news, although devastating, made the decision for him.

Lee, who has been running the shop for eight years, has a young family, and was already conflicted because although he has a great loyalty to his customers, and his bike buddies, and he needed to stay open to keep afloat financially he did not want to put them in any additional danger.

It is a dilemma being faced by small and large businesses up and down the country. But Lee thought he would be forced to close so there would not be any choice.

Then when he found bike shops on the essential list, he was back in a dilemma. It is further complicated by the fact that if he DOES close , will that mean that, should there be any compensation for the self employed, because he did it by choice, would that money be available?

Or would he forfeit it because he defied government rules to stay open?

Lee said: " You want to help, and I have been doing this for eight years, so I don't want to throw away that loyalty.

" But it is a weighing scales, I have got a family at home so financially I need to stay open, but my wife she said just shut up and come home and be with us.

" I only have four bikes in at the moment anyway so that's another factor. I will help people if it's the last thing I do, but its emotional right now.

" Normally at this time we would be booking in bikes two weeks in advance."

But Lee is also upset about the whole bike business and how he can't share any of the thrill and delight involved in buying a bike. Should anyone be even thinking of buying one right now.

" You know when someone buys a bike", said Lee. " It is a wonderful thing and the first thing I would do is clap someone on the back and congratulate them, or at least shake their hand. Now I can't even do that."

Radstock's local MP Jacob Rees Mogg, gave the latest news on the coronavirus crisis to Nub News in his column.You can read what he had to say here: the weekly column from the Bath and North East Somerset MP.