The government has issued fresh guidance on holidays in areas with local coronavirus restrictions.
Large parts of England's North West, West Yorkshire and the Midlands face tough new restrictions as the Health Secretary refused to rule out a national lockdown.
Ministers announced a tightening of rules in response to "major increases" in Covid-19 cases, with Merseyside, Warrington, Halton and Lancashire (excluding Blackpool and Greater Manchester) escalated to "areas of intervention".
From Tuesday, you must not meet with people you do not live with in private homes or in gardens.
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There are limited exceptions set out in law, including where you have formed a legally-permitted support bubble with another household.
You should also avoid meeting people you do not live with in public venues, such as bars and restaurants.
But with a late spell of warm weather in September, you may be thinking about booking a last-minute staycation in the UK or are already looking forward to a trip away from home, reports the M.E.N.
The government has set out guidance for holidaying in local lockdown areas and has given advice on whether you need to cut a holiday short if a local lockdown is imposed whilst in the area.
Staying in an area with local restrictions
You can travel into an area with local restrictions on holiday.
Whilst inside the area, you should follow the guidance set out above - in particular, you must not stay in a private home there (which includes self-catered accommodation such as holiday cottages, apartments or boats) - with people you do not normally live with.
At the time that local restrictions are brought in, if you are currently on holiday with another household in an area with local restrictions and are staying in a private home - which includes self-catered accommodation such as holiday cottages, apartments or boats - and it is not reasonable for you to curtail your stay, you should finish your holiday as planned.
Until the end of this holiday you should make every effort to reduce socialising indoors outside of your household and follow local regulations and guidance.
If you are not able to take a planned holiday due to local restrictions, the government would encourage accommodation providers to offer alternative dates if this can be agreed with you.
If this cannot be arranged, the government encourage businesses to provide a refund as they have for customers during the broader period of national restrictions, which may depend on the terms of the booking contract.
Travelling outside the area
At the time that local restrictions are brought in, if you are currently on holiday with another household outside the area with local restrictions, but are from the area, and are staying in a private home - which includes self-catered accommodation such as holiday cottages, apartments or boats - and it is not reasonable for you to curtail your stay, you should finish your holiday as planned.
Until the end of this holiday you should make every effort to reduce socialising indoors outside of your household and follow local regulations and guidance.
