The Transport Secretary has been urged to guarantee that anyone who cancels Christmas travel plans because of a change in Government advice is reimbursed .

Last month people across the UK were told coronavirus laws would be relaxed to allow the mixing of up to three households between December 23 and 27, and encouraged to book train tickets in advance to avoid being denied entry on trains.

But after rising concerns the move will lead to a surge of new infections and deaths, Boris Johnson urged people to scale down their plans to have “short” and ‘small’ Christmases.

He warned Britons against travelling between areas of high and low prevalence of the virus, while Wales is going as far as changing the law to limit mixing to two households.

Since then the Liberal Democrats have pressed ministers ‘to do the right thing’ by ensuring people do not lose out financially on non-refundable tickets if they follow new guidance for the festive period.

In a letter to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and the Prime Minister, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and his transport spokeswoman Sarah Olney said: ‘It is only right for you to guarantee that full refunds of train fares paid in advance will be available if people cancel their rail tickets for travel over Christmas.

‘People booked these tickets in good faith, following your advice, and now that advice has changed it must be right for you to ensure they will receive their money back. We hope you will do the right thing.’

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: ‘We recognise people will want to travel to see their family over Christmas so we have been clear on our guidance around travelling.

‘People should plan their journeys carefully and book in advance wherever possible to ensure they can visit the people they’ve formed a Christmas bubble with.’

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