Lancaster and Morecambe to be in 'Tier 2' of new government coronavirus rules

The Liverpool City Region is the first area of the country to be put into Tier 3 or "very high alert", with all pubs, restaurants, betting shops, gyms and casinos to close for at least four weeks, from Wednesday October 14.

Most of the rest of the country will be in Tier 1, or the medium alert category.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to address the nation at 7pm, after announcing the new measures in the House of Commons this afternoon, although the idea had been leaked last week.

Currently, in the Lancaster district and Lancashire as a whole people are not allowed to meet other households in private gardens, but the Tier 2 regulations allow up to six people from different households to do this.

Areas like Lancashire already under additional local restrictions are automatically in the high alert level - meaning bans on households mixing indoors are extended to include hospitality venues, and the 10pm curfew still applies.

A Labour source told the Lancaster Guardian that Lancashire would be in Tier 2, and that in effect it is a loosening of restrictions, given people would be able to meet in private gardens again, although not indoors in hospitality venues.

Nigel Evans, MP for Ribble Valley, also announced in a video on social media that Lancashire would be placed into Tier 2.

It is also understood that Lancashire is "at risk of moving to Tier 3", but it is not clear whether the whole of Lancashire will be in the same tier.

More to follow...