Wales will be moving into level four alert from December 28 to control the spread of coronavirus.

The Welsh Government announced on Wednesday that non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure centres and attractions would have to close.

While schools, colleges, places of worship and parks would remain open.

The third 'lockdown' since March, businesses and community representatives from across north and mid Powys have reacted to the latest plan to control the virus.

In Presteigne, Dale Gorman, landlord of the Royal Oak, said everyone is "extremely disappointed".

"What would usually be our busiest time of the year has been completely written off. It is this period that helps get many small businesses through the quieter months of January and February," he said.

"It is also disappointing as we are all being disproportionately affected when all of the high case rates are down south Wales. Normal logic would point towards locking down the whole of south Wales and having reduced restrictions for the north, mid and west Wales.

"Many businesses like ourselves have spent thousands of pounds to create Covid-secure environments and it all feels like such a waste."

Mayor of Llanfyllin and county councillor Peter Lewis said he was fearful of the impact it would have on businesses particularly in the hospitality industry which is vital to the town.

He said:

"To have to close going into the New Year is very worrying for businesses, it's a terrible scenario and I would urge people to support local businesses in every way they can throughout, as well as keeping check on the vulnerable and lonely."

Over at the Elan Hotel in Rhayader which has been shut since the start of December, landlord Martin McDaid said there should be a united front from the devolved governments.

"There’s been a few mistakes from the government but at the same time they were never going to please everyone. We’ll be compensated but I just wish there had been more of a combined and cohesive UK strategy from the start. I’m from Ireland but been over here for 40 years and always thought Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England were united, but listening to the different heads of state they seem to think they’re not all part of the UK. They seem to have lost that and all they care about is their own political agenda against Westminster.

"What they should have done was acted unilaterally at the start and told us we’re closing everything for Christmas but then from March you can open up fully and flat out, no restrictions or rules.

"Wages is our biggest bill, you can turn off the electric and gas but employees need paying and we have 11/12 staff."

Liz Evans, owner of No1 High Street in Newtown, said the impact of the lockdown will not only be felt by small retail businesses but also local cottage industries that help support them with goods.

"I do hope it's the last lockdown," she said. "January sales is a good month for me."

"I have been expecting it, the Welsh Government has been talking about this for months. I wish they'd give businesses a package explaining what it all means when they make an announcement, just so we can prepare."

Newtown Mayor and county councillor for Newtown Central David Selby said he was "not surprised" by the decision, but "very disappointed".

"It's very difficult this time around. We knew it was going to be a challenge. It's just getting more and more difficult for the community.

"But businesses have been superb at adapting to the challenges."