Harrogate student's worries of not being allowed back home for Christmas due to Covid-19

Students from across the country could be banned from returning to their hometown this Christmas because of coronavirus.

The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has warned students could be made to stay at university over Christmas if infection rates continue to rise.

Harrogate student Minty Praud, 18, has moved to Nottingham to study Chemical Engineering. She told us the idea of not being allowed home for Christmas is "very upsetting."

She said: "Christmas is such a time for family and being together with your loved ones. To be told you're not allowed to do that, you're not allowed to go home and you have to stay on your own at university - I'd find that incredibly hard.

It's been such a difficult year already, especially with A Levels. So now not having the Christmas comforts like the tree, decorations, Christmas meal and all those festive things which are really important. It's just all being taken away from us."

Many students have been questioning whether going to university during the pandemic was the right choice.

Minty was unsure at first, but now thinks she wouldn't have decided to go if she'd have known she could've been banned from going home.

She said: "It's almost a case of should I get out now while I still can? If I'd have known this was going to happen I don't think I would've come to university.

"It's even crazy to just suggest you're going to keep students away from their families at Christmas, in a city they're not yet familiar with."

University students across the UK are being told to not hold parties in their halls of residence and most universities have cancelled their Fresher's Weeks.

It's to avoid socialising in places that do not have Covid-19 protections in place.

Those who choose not to follow the rules have been warned by universities they will face fines or be kicked off their courses.