Prime minister Boris Johnson has this afternoon confirmed that London and parts of the south east will be entering Tier 4 restrictions, amid the growing number of coronavirus cases.
From Sunday, December 20, London and the South East will enter Tier 4 restrictions.
This means that from one minute past midnight, people living in these regions will be under tighter c oronavirus rules.
All non-essential shops will shut, including hairdressers, gyms leisure and entertainment venues such as cinemas.
No Christmas bubbles will be allowed at all in Tier 4 and residents will be subject to "stay at home orders" meaning they cannot travel to a lower-ranking area.
Johnson has confirmed that the new restrictions will be broadly equivalent to national restrictions which were introduced in England in November.
As a result, elite sporting fixtures are expected to continue behind closed doors.
More to follow.
