France is tightening rules for travellers from the UK in a huge blow to those planning Christmas trips.

Travellers will need to have a ‘compelling reason’ to visit amid the spread of Omicron.

Paris says ‘compelling reasons’ do not include travel for tourism or business – meaning millions of Brits will be banned.

French nationals and their spouses can still enter the country, as well as British people who live there.

Brits travelling on ‘essential’ business are expected to be exempt, with hauliers still able to do their jobs.

Anyone coming from the UK with reason to enter will have to show a negative PCR result from the 24 hours before their arrival.

They will then have to isolate for seven days, although this can be reduced to 48 hours if another negative test is returned.

It comes as Omicron rips through the country, with the highest number of new coronavirus cases since the pandemic started reported on Wednesday.

France said in a statement: ‘In the UK government’s own words, the UK is facing a “tidal wave” of the Omicron variant in the coming days.’

It added: ‘In response to the extremely rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the UK, the government is reinstating compelling reasons for travel to and from the UK, and strengthening the requirement for testing on departure and arrival.’

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