Flexible circuit-breaker lockdowns in place for every school holiday into the Spring are crucial to allow families and businesses to plan ahead and keep test and trace on top of the spread, advisors say

A series of flexible circuit-breaker lockdowns need to be put “in the diary” for every school holiday through to the Spring, Government scientific advisors say.

With the test and trace system having become rapidly overwhelmed with cases surging, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) called for a temporary two-week lockdown weeks ago.

But with that advice ignored by Downing Street in favour of the three-tier system, it is understood advisers have continued to make the case for multiple school holiday lockdowns.

They believe they would allow families and businesses to plan ahead, as well as giving the Government the option to cancel at short notice if cases are under control.