A WORCESTER nightclub owner says it is "good news" the government has appeared to now rule out Covid passports.

Health secretary Sajid Javid revealed on the Andrew Marr show on Sunday that the passports - that would have required proof of entry to a club, whether through double vaccination or a negative Covid test - had been scrapped.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson previously announced they were to be introduced at the end of this month, and is expected to say this week they are instead being kept "in reserve", should they be needed in the coming months.

When passports were announced in July Alexander Fell, owner of Alexander’s Nightclub in New Street, described it as a blow to their business.

But he has now expressed relief at the U-turn.

"It is good news to hear," he said.

"I didn't know how it was all going to work, the logistics of it. It would have obviously stopped a lot of people from going to nightclubs.

"I know there is controversy about whether people want to get jabbed or not, that is up to individual discretion.

"We are just going to follow the government guidelines.

"I think it (no passports required) is going to make business easier post Covid."

Meanwhile the boss of another Worcestershire nightclub - who had been particularly critical of the passports - also said he was pleased to hear they had been scrapped.

Sam Benjamin, managing director of Marilyn’s, Bridge Street, Evesham, said: "It has been something in the back of my mind, and we didn't know if they were going to do it.

"It would have been pretty devastating.

"The logistical problem would have been times like if someone's phone battery died, we wouldn't have been able to see their passport.

"It would have been a silly reason to have had to turn people away, and we would have been losing money.

Sam added: "I have heard they haven't ruled it out.

"It is not just that is worrying. We are taking every week as we can right now, because you just don't know what is round the corner."

Worcester News readers had mixed views on the announcement.

Abby Williams said: "Brilliant and a success for democracy."

Nat Bannister said: "I don't think there should be a vaccine passport - why should a person have to prove anything where we apparently have the right to freedom."

But Owen Prince said: "Reckless move, it should be needed everywhere for everyone's safety."

Linda Scerri added: "He will wait until the winter lockdown to bring it in."