TIER 4 restrictions have been introduced in London and in areas in the south east and east of England.

Millions of festive plans have been shredded as Brits in Tier 4 are banned from forming Christmas bubbles. What do the restrictions mean for travel? Find out here.

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Can I travel in Tier 4?

Tier 4 includes measures on travel impacting people who live in the affected areas and anyone seeking to enter them.

Brits under Tier 4 restrictions have been ordered by the government to stay at home.

A travel ban will come into force at one minute past midnight on Sunday, December 20.

England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty begged people not to flee the capital tonight, saying: "If you have packed a bag, unpack it."

The draconian measure has plunged millions of Christmas plans into jeopardy and it's likely that train stations will face a mad rush of Brits trying to leave Tier 4 areas before the restrictions come into force.

Full list of areas in Tier 4

HERE is the full list of areas in Tier 4.

• Kent
• Buckinghamshire
• Berkshire
• Surrey (excluding Waverley)
• The boroughs of Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings
• All 32 London boroughs and the city of London.
• Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough
• Hertfordshire
• Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring)

What are the new Tier 4

restrictions?

Tier 4 restrictions will be similar to the national lockdown in November.

Travel outside of Tier 4 areas is not permitted, except for work purposes – if you cannot work from home, while going abroad is heavily discouraged.

As in Tier 3, pubs and restaurants will remain closed.

Gyms and hairdressers in Tier 4 areas will be forced to shut.

Overnight stays are banned.

Non-essential shops will also be shut in further efforts to prevent the spread of the latest Covid strain.

But places of worship will remain open for communal purposes over the Christmas period.

Meanwhile, you will be able to meet just one person outside.

The drastic measures come after Prime Minister Boris Johnson was spooked about a new strain of coronavirus which is spreading "rapidly" in the south-east of England.

The new strain is blamed for a sudden surge in hospitalisations and The Sun understands evidence shows a dramatic hike in positive cases in London in the past week.

And there are fears people are catching the virus despite wearing PPE and socially distancing.

It comes as….

• Boris Johnson today cancelled Christmas for millions as he put London, the South East and East in Tier 4 lockdown
• The new variant strain of the virus which causes Covid-19 may be up to 70% more transmissible
• All Brits have been told to stay local during the festive season
• Christmas bubbles in Tiers 1, 2 and 3 have been cut to just 24 hours on December 25
• Non-essential shops and gyms in Tier 4 areas must be closed from midnight
• Those in Tier 4 will be able to meet only one other person outdoors – but must not stay overnight from home
• Wales will go into lockdown from tonight – but people can bubble for Christmas day only

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