Millions of people across the country will welcome the news of coronavirus restrictions easing over Christmas.

Three households will be allowed to form an exclusive Christmas bubble for five days from December 23 to 27.

The new guidance only permits Christmas bubbles to meet up outdoors, in churches and in private homes.

This means you can stay over at your parents’ house on December 23, but you can’t go for a pint with them at the pub on Christmas Eve.

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Christmas bubbles will be fixed over the festive period, meaning you are not allowed to change your bubble once it is formed.

While social distancing will be relaxed in the bubbles, people are still advised to exercise restraint and judgment if they plan to mix with vulnerable friends or family.

It means friends and family will have the chance to hug for the first time in months.

The new guidance will be a blow for people aged over 65 in care homes, who are not allowed to join their families for the holidays.

It also hits families with three children who live away from home, as they would not all be allowed to return for Christmas.

However, university students returning at the end of term are allowed to re-join a family household.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are yet to publish their full guidance, which could contain variations in approaches.

The Scottish Government said people should keep the numbers within a bubble as low as possible and minimise the length of contact between different households in the bubble.

If you have Covid symptoms or are required to self-isolate then you must not join a Christmas bubble.

If someone in a Christmas bubble tests positive for coronavirus or develops symptoms between December 23 and 27, or up to 48 hours after the bubble last met, then all bubble members must self-isolate.

The guidance says you can choose to form a different Christmas bubble from the people you live with normally.

To prevent virus transmission within your normal household and between bubbles, people should try to stay with another member of their Christmas bubble between December 23 and 27 where possible.

Extra precautions such as cleaning surfaces and door handles and letting in fresh air after someone has visited your household are also advised.

You will be able to meet people not in your Christmas bubble outside your home according to the rules in the tier you are staying in.

The tier system of restrictions applies to England, with rules in other parts of the UK varying.

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