The leader of Manchester City Council has called for a "modification" of new lockdown rules, claiming some "go too far".

People living in Greater Manchester and other parts of northern England have been told they cannot mix with other households in private homes or gardens.

Sir Richard Leese told BBC Radio Manchester: "Although I think we need to take urgent action, I think it needs to be proportionate, and I think there is possibly some of this where we need to be seeking minor modification from the secretary of state.

"There are some areas, for example gardens, where for the time being it just goes too far."

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The prime minister has told opposition parties a further easing of restrictions due to come in tomorrow in England is being postponed.

It had been expected that venues such as casinos and bowling alleys would reopen from tomorrow. Live indoor theatre and concerts were also due to resume with socially distanced audiences.

Details are expected in the prime minister’s press conference.

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There is a lack of clarity on the new local lockdown rules being imposed for West Yorkshire, one MP representing an affected area has said.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Media

Last night, health secretary Matt Hancock said that following a spike in coronavirus cases in Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees, those areas would be subject to extra rules.

But Holly Lynch, Labour MP for Halifax. has criticised the government's announcement saying there was a lack of clarity.

She said: "I am calling on government to provide more information and further clarity about these new changes as quickly as possible.

"People understand the seriousness of the situation, but there are some ambiguities and inconsistencies in this information."

From midnight, people living in the affected areas can't visit other homes or gardens, but can meet up with people in outside spaces like public parks, government guidelines say, external.

Samantha Jagger
BBC News

Zoe Patrick, from Manchester, says the new lockdown rules for her area will be a "struggle" for families with children where both parents are working from home.

Ms Patrick, 33, says the childminder she uses to look after her two-year-old son is on holiday and the new restrictions announced by the government mean she can't ask his grandparents to look after him.

"We will have to struggle on our own," she said.

"I have some annual leave booked but don't want to use my whole year's allowance just to cover a childminder's holiday."

Image source, Zoe Patrick

People "must not be complacent about the continuing risk of Covid-19", the leader of Manchester City Council has said in response to the new lockdown measures imposed on the area.

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In a statement, Sir Richard Leese said:

Pubs and restaurants in Leicester are set to reopen from Monday as a number of lockdown restrictions in the city are lifted.

It follows an announcement by Health Secretary Matt Hancock that lockdown restrictions had been tightened in parts of northern England.

He said those restrictions on household visits would also apply in Leicester.

The borough of Oadby and Wigston on the outskirts of the city is moving completely out of local lockdown.

People living in Leicester, Oadby and Wigston were told to observe strict measures from 29 June after a spike in coronavirus cases.

Image source, PA Media

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Opposition MPs from areas affected by the government's tightening of lockdown restrictions across northern England have described widespread confusion and "chaos" following the announcement last night.

Labour shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy, MP for Wigan, said: "It's absolutely right that they do this. But I cannot describe to you the level of chaos that there was last night with this announcement."

She criticised the government for asking people to "comply with new rules in just a few hours" without many details on the new restrictions.

Tracy Brabin, Labour MP for Batley and Spen in West Yorkshire, said the way the new lockdown measures had been announced was "deeply chaotic".

She said: "To announce this sort of measure late at night on Twitter caused an awful lot of anxiety in my community. It's a new low."

Ms Brabin added: "I have been getting messages from families asking 'can I take my children to the childminder?', 'can I go to work?' It's just not good enough. Lockdown measures that keep people safe, we back 100%, but this is not the way to do it.

Ashton-under-Lyne MP and Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner says she has been contacted by constituents who are confused by how the new regulations will be "practically applied and how it will affect interaction in other areas where people congregate".

Meanwhile, Stalybridge and Hyde's Labour representative has criticised the way the lockdown measures were revealed, saying that "a few tweets from a minister late at night" was not the way it should have come out.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has appeared to contradict the government's new lockdown restrictions for parts of northern England.

He was asked on BBC Breakfast whether a household under the new restrictions could meet another household outside of the affected regions.

Later on, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said it was for the government to "clear up some of this confusion" over the rules that came into force at midnight.

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A number of care homes in England are having to delay the resumption of visits because of a lack of coronavirus testing for staff and residents.

It comes after the government withdrew one brand of home-test kits used in care homes over safety concerns.

A leading care home group told the BBC many of its facilities would not be able to host family members for weeks.

The government said care homes affected by the withdrawal of kits would get replacements "as soon as possible".

• Read the full story here

Miqdaad Versi, from the Muslim Council of Britain, says new lockdown restrictions announced by the government are likely to have a "large impact" on Muslim families celebrating Eid.

"Unclear why such short notice provided but important that this message is cascaded as quickly as possible," he tweeted, external.

Eid al-Adha is the second major Muslim festival after Eid al-Fitr.

The government has confirmed that mosques, subject to social distancing, are not affected by the new measures.

Further guidance for Muslim communities is available here, external.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Leisure facilities could reopen in Luton on Saturday, after the government said "significant progress" had been made in controlling coronavirus.

Last week, Public Health England (PHE) data showed the Bedfordshire town had been marked as an "area for intervention", along with Blackburn with Darwen, after a spike in cases.

Blackburn's leisure centres will remain closed.

The BBC has approached Luton Borough Council for comment.

Daniel Wainwright
BBC England Data Unit

Many of the northern areas facing tighter lockdown restrictions than the rest of England are among those with the highest rates of new coronavirus infections.

Blackburn with Darwen, we have known for some time, has passed Leicester for new infections as one area has seen them rise and the other has seen them fall.

In Greater Manchester, the only borough to have seen cases come down substantially is Rochdale, but it remains one of the areas with the highest new infection rates out of more than 300 local authorities in England.

Oldham’s cases have surged and the local council sounded the alarm earlier this week.

Trafford went from 26 cases to 91, which works out at more than 38 for every 100,000 residents.

Bolton has not recorded a rise in the week to 26 July, but provisional data for the week to 28 July suggests it may move slightly up, although these figures are subject to revision as more test results come in.

A West Yorkshire Imam is urging people to "remain safe and vigilant" during Eid al-Adha celebrations, as new coronavirus measures come into force banning members of separate households meeting each other indoors in parts of West Yorkshire.

Image source, Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images

The measures were introduced last night following a spike in coronavirus cases in parts of northern England, including Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees.

Usually during Eid, Muslims will go to special prayers at their local mosque and have a day of celebrations with family and friends.

But Leeds Imam Qari Asim says festivities at home are "just as effective as those in larger groups".

Mr Asim says: “I, along with Imams across the country, advise people to continue to be vigilant and respectful in their celebrations.

“There has been a sense of deflation and disappointment as restrictions have been placed on Hajj for the first time in such a manner, but we are not alone.

"Other faith communities have had to make sacrifices. We hope these spiritual sacrifices will enable us all to defeat Covid-19 together."

On Thursday, a further 38 people in the UK died, bringing the total number of Covid-19 associated deaths to 45,999.

And 846 cases were reported - the highest number of cases in a day for a month.

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Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

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The government always warned it would slam on the brakes if it had to. Now it has - on an unprecedented scale, with two-and-a-half hours notice.

Liberties recently returned, almost instantly snatched away. And snatched with a rebuke from the health secretary for England - Matt Hancock - who repeatedly said this was necessary because some in the areas affected had failed to stick to social distancing rules.

I'm told the change comes without a time limit, but will be reviewed every week. And don't be surprised if the government, from the prime minister down, make the case that this could happen elsewhere too if people are cavalier about the rules.

And yet, in Leicester, the local, more severe restrictions imposed there are to be eased. The baby steps back towards normality are going to be hesitant and faltering; messy in their detail and messy in their geography.

The virus has robbed us of many things. It continues to rob us of any certainty.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester has said he agreed with the decision to tighten lockdown restrictions across the area, as there had been a "marked change in the picture" with regards the spread of Covid-19.

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"We have gone from a falling rate of cases in nearly all of our boroughs last week to a rising rate in nine out of 10 affecting communities across a much wider geography," he said. "In Rochdale, the one borough where cases have fallen, they are still too high."

He said all residents "young and old alike" should "protect each other" by observing the requirements, which will be reviewed weekly.

This means "the more we stick to them, the quicker they will be removed", he said.

Following the government's announcement on tightened coronavirus restrictions across the north of England, and changes in other areas, here's a roundup of situation in England:

• People in Greater Manchester, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Leicester cannot mix with other households (apart from those in their support bubbles) in private homes or gardens
• People in those areas can only go to pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues with other members of their household
• From Monday in Leicester, restaurants, cafes, bars and hairdressers can open but leisure centres, gyms and pools will remain closed
• Cinemas and museums will also be able to open in Leicester from Monday and religious ceremonies will be able to take place
• The borough of Oadby and Wigston on the outskirts of Leicester is taken out of local lockdown
• Also, gyms and leisure centres will remain closed in Blackburn, but they will be able to reopen in Luton - both towns saw the lifting of restrictions paused last week

Image source, Getty Images

New lockdown restrictions across parts of northern England will "come as a blow" to Muslim communities preparing to celebrate Eid this weekend, the government has admitted.

Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, said: "We take this action with a heavy heart, but we can see increasing rates of coronavirus across Europe and are determined to do whatever is necessary to keep people safe."

Mosques and other places of worship have reopened for prayer and communal worship.

But the government has said these areas needed to work in a "different, socially distanced and Covid-19 secure way".

"This means that while mosques can remain open, many will not able to welcome as many worshippers as before," a spokesman added.

Separate households are not allowed to meet indoors in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire as of midnight last night.

The government said there was an "increasing rate of transmission" in these areas.

Making the announcement, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "The spread is largely due to households meeting and not abiding to social distancing."