OXFORDSHIRE leaders are 'appalled' they were not consulted about a second national lockdown.

'No sufficient support' is available to businesses according to leaders of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils, who sent a strongly-worded letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Councillors Emily Smith and Sue Cooper revealed that a number of businesses are 'extremely concerned' that they are now facing an immediate loss of income, including many who fell through the gaps of the Government’s previous grants schemes during the first lockdown.

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The letter, which was published on Thursday, read: "It is incredibly frustrating that the national lockdown was announced with no forewarning or outline of the accompanying support for businesses who do not pay business rates.

"The councils have already been contacted by concerned businesses who believe they will have no income from today.

"Businesses in the leisure, allied health, arts and events sectors, as well as those home-based, limited company freelancers, and the newly self-employed are most concerned about the impact of the new period of national lockdown."