Hundreds of thousands more people will plunge into Tier 3 this week as new areas join the harshest lockdown.

Warrington will become the fourth area of England to join Tier 3 at midnight tonight, with pubs and bars forced to shut in the town of 210,000 people.

And parts of Nottinghamshire (population 1.2million) will change to the highest alert level on Thursday after local leaders met the government this afternoon.

Meanwhile, Tier 3 talks are ongoing with West Yorkshire (2.3m), and were reopened with the North East (2.7m) but the status is unclear.

Leaders in the North East said on Monday that they would resist moves to Tier 3.

The government finally confirmed Warrington will enter Tier 3 this afternoon, days after the news was confirmed by MPs and the council.

Pubs and bars will be forced to shut unless they can operate as a restaurant, and can only serve alcohol with “substantial” meals.