Downing Street had set a noon deadline for talks to end before they would take their own action – but Boris Johnson is holding last minute talks with Andy Burnham this afternoon

It comes after ministers said they could be forced to impose a Tier 3 lockdown on the region if a deal wasn’t struck.

But that deadline passed without fanfare – with Boris Johnson and Andy Burnham engaging in last minutes talks directly this afternoon.

Downing Street confirmed that whatever conclusion is reached – be it a last minute deal or Whitehall forcing restrictions on the city – would be announced at a press conference at 5pm.

The Prime Minister will be flanked by Professor Stephen Powis, the national clinical director for NHS England, and Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer.

Meetings between officials from Greater Manchester and Downing Street continued through the morning and past the 12pm deadline.