PUBS in the area are growing increasingly worried about the 'pingdemic' affecting their businesses.

Venues across Dorset have been struggling in the wake of July 19's 'Freedom Day' as more and more people are having to self isolate as a result of coming into contact with someone with Covid-19 - an issue which has been dubbed 'the pingdemic'.

Many pubs and restaurants have suffered from a lack of staff recently and some have even had to close for short periods due to the lack of people on the books, with the prevalence of self isolating only exasperating this problem.

The Pymore Inn, in Pymore, has had three members of staff pinged by the NHS app in recent weeks.

Holly Good, landlady of the Pymore Inn said: "It's just another thing we have to worry about.

"Staffing issues are a causing a bit of a headache at the moment. We've had to cut down on the amount of people we were letting into the pub in order to cope, as we didn't want the food and service to suffer.

"It's a stressful feeling, knowing we could write out a rota and then people just won't be able to come in on the day. And if the people who have been pinged test positive then it's an even bigger problem."

She added: "A lot more people are being told to isolate by the app, it's raised a lot of issues as some people just aren't using it anymore as they could get 'pinged' for anything."

Neon, on East Street, Bridport, was forced to close temporarily earlier in the month after someone at the venue tested positive. They were able to reopen later that week.

Claire Pimbley, landlady of the Half Moon Inn in Melplash, said: "It's very prevalent in our minds, it's yet another thing to worry about.

"If one a member of our core team had to isolate, we would potentially have to close - so we're very aware of the problem.

"We've been very lucky and haven't had a member of the team pinged but it's a worry we didn't think we'd ever have - we were looking forward to being able to open again as we had expected with no restrictions."

Chris Denne, manager of the Pursuit of Hoppiness on West Street, Bridport, said: "We have had someone have to self isolate but luckily we had other staff to step in and take up the slack.

"These are the times we live in and we've just got to get on with it. Some businesses with less staff and less flexibility than we have may be struggling with it but thankfully we are coping.

"It's something we're aware of and take seriously, we have a good core crew of staff willing to pick up the slack so we are very lucky. "

The Three Horseshoes in Burton Bradstock has seen one member of staff have to self isolate but it was while they were on holiday so did not affect the pub.

Hannah Schep, landlady at the Three Horseshoes, said: "The anxiety levels are pretty high, it is not ideal at all.

"It doesn't make our lives any easier and it's another thing to think about but it's one of those things, no point stressing about it too much.

"We've been controlling our business volumes so we don't disappoint our customers, we want to be in a position where we can provide good service whatever the staffing situation is."

The issue was addressed by the Dorset Chamber earlier in the week.

The chamber's chief executive, Ian Girling, said: “We have serious concerns about the rapidly increasing number of businesses in Dorset being affected by employees going into quarantine.

“More and more employers are calling us about it. With the soaring number of people testing positive for Covid also a major concern, the situation could become much worse.

“We are raising the staffing shortages issue through the BCC and I am writing to our MPs. We’ll also be seeking more ways to support Dorset businesses too, including clarification about how they may qualify for the government’s exemption scheme."