Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Barber shops and hair salons are among businesses that will need to remain closed in Leicester for an additional two weeks at least.

Blake Edwards, the owner of the Flappers and Gentlemen salon, said: "We can dwell, we can moan and I can rant on social media but that's not going to do anything.

"We've just got to manoeuvre, adapt, refocus our brains and just get more ready, stronger and be ready for opening, whenever that is.

"That's the big question - we don't know when - everything is still vague.

"All we know as a business is whatever gets thrown at us, we just have to dodge the bullet, get stronger and come back."

PA Media

The Health Secretary has been questioned about extra financial support being made available to Leicester due to the extended and increased local lockdown.

In addition to the furlough scheme, which remains in place, Matt Hancock said: "We've also put in money to the local councils so that on a discretionary basis they can use that to support people who need further support."

It follows calls, external from city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby for increased support.

"If Leicester is to be treated differently in terms of the lockdown, we also need to the treated differently in terms of the support for businesses," he said.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport

Racing at Leicester is planned to go ahead on Tuesday despite stricter lockdown measures in the city.

An evening meeting with nine races is scheduled to take place behind closed doors from 16:40.

Horse racing in Great Britain resumed on 1 June with safety and social distancing protocols and no spectators.

Image source, PA Media

It is understood the British Horseracing Authority has not received any specific new government advice and it already advises participants to go straight to and from a racecourse and not mingle with the local community.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced that non-essential shops in Leicester will shut on Tuesday, and schools will close for most pupils on Thursday because of a rise in coronavirus cases.

The racecourse is about three miles from the city centre, in Oadby - which is one of the suburbs covered by the new restrictions.

Nisha Chopra
BBC News

It's been non-stop interviews and calls for Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby this morning as stricter lockdown measures are now in place.

Working from home, Sir Peter has a meeting with his deputy and assistant mayor later about what they should do next.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said testing for coronavirus in Leicester has revealed there have been "unusually high incidents in children".

Schools in Leicester will close from Thursday.

Mr Hancock said the two-day delay is due to it being a "big logistical exercise" for parents and schools.

He said: "We've sent a lot of extra testing into Leicester over the last 10 days or so and one of the things we've found is that there are under 18s who have tested positive.

"Therefore, because children can transmit the disease, even though they are highly unlikely to get ill from the disease, we think the safest thing to do is to close the schools."

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the government will change the law to enforce the local lockdown in Leicester.

Taking about shops and other non-essential retail in the city, Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast: "We'll be closing them by law and changing the law in the next day or two to put that into effect.

"We're also not releasing the legal measures that lift the lockdown for the rest of the country."

Image source, AFP

He said the law won't include banning people from travelling from Leicester to other nearby cities.

"We are recommending against travel unless it's essential but we're not putting that in place in law at this stage - of course we will if we have to," he said.

"Frankly, I've seen what people did during in the lockdown across the whole country and people in very large proportion followed the rules and I think that's what people will do in Leicester."

Rob Sissons
East Midlands Today Reporter

The big question in Leicester is: Where does the geography of the lockdown start and end?

I understand they were refining the map last night.

The virus, of course, doesn’t recognise lines on a map, but it's designed to extensively cover the area where there's been a surge.

Alex Smith
BBC News Online

Leicester South MP and shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth addressed the Commons last night following Matt Hancock's announcement for Leicester.

Mr Ashworth said he was supportive of tighter measures in Leicester and elsewhere, saying if restrictions have to be reimposed - then "so be it".

He said: "The virus remains deadly, it causes significant long-term harm and still demands a resolute response. If that means restrictions have to remain in place, whether in Leicester or elsewhere, or if restrictions have to be reimposed, whether in Leicester or elsewhere, then so be it."

However, Mr Ashworth was critical of what he called briefings from "over-eager advisers" following news of a potential localised lockdown appearing in local and national media over the weekend.

Image source, Getty Images

"People in Leicester were concerned, anxious and scared to read in the newspapers and see on the TV screens yesterday news that we were going into some form of lockdown based on anonymous briefings," he said.

"I understand that things get leaked and so on, I've been around politics a long time, I understand that.

"But can I just urge [Mr Hancock] to appreciate that something with this seriousness and sensitivity, people need crystal-clear clarity and not briefings perhaps from over-eager advisers."

In response, Mr Hancock said "within two hours of the final decisions being taken I've come to this House".

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Leicestershire County Council has said it is working with the Leicester City Council and the government to reduce the recent spike in coronavirus cases.

Some areas of the county have been included in the localised lockdown, such as Glenfield and Oadby.

Image source, Google

The leader of the authority - Nick Rushton - said: "Clearly coronavirus does not adhere to lines on a map.

"And although county rates are below the national and regional averages, we can't be complacent and it makes sense to step up restrictions in areas closer to the city.

"I understand this is disappointing news for residents, parents of schoolchildren and businesses when most of the country is opening back up but it's crucial that people follow the latest advice."

Alex Smith
BBC News Online

Leicestershire MPs have been giving their reaction to the government's announcement of tougher restrictions in Leicester and its surrounding areas.

Harborough MP Neil O'Brien tweeted, external the measures would "apply in outer parts of Leicester too - including all of my constituents in Oadby, Wigston and South Wigston", but that Great Glen, a village two miles south of Oadby, was not included.

Image source, Getty Images

Fellow Conservative and South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa said, external the delay on the clarification of restrictions was "frustrating".

Labour's Liz Kendall, who represents Leicester West, urged, external the government to ensure Leicester gets all the help and support it needs.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

The extended coronavirus lockdown will come as "a significant blow" to businesses in Leicester, the region's chamber of commerce has said.

Scott Knowles, chief executive of the East Midlands chamber, said: "Many were looking forward to reopening this weekend for the first time since lockdown began in March.

"Others were just getting up to speed after welcoming back staff and customers over the past fortnight.

"With an extended and more robust local lockdown now in place, these businesses now need additional support above and beyond what has already been made available."

Alex Smith
BBC News Online

Announcing the measures last night, Matt Hancock said the decisions taken were "difficult but important".

"We recommend to people in Leicester, stay at home as much as you can, and we recommend against all but essential travel to, from and within Leicester," Mr Hancock said.

"We'll monitor closely adherence to social distancing rules and we'll take further steps if that's what's necessary.

"The more people follow the rules, the faster we'll get control of this virus and get Leicester back to normal."

Alex Smith
BBC News Online

Matt Hancock confirmed last night the new, stricter measures for Leicester also include "the surrounding conurbation including, for example, Oadby, Birstall and Glenfield".

He said exact details of which wards in Leicestershire are included in the new lockdown measures will be published "imminently".

Leicestershire County Council said it was working on the details of this with Public Health England.

Image source, Getty Images

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

The hours leading up to Matt Hancock's announcement that tighter lockdown restrictions were to be brought in for Leicester were dramatic and confusing in equal measure.

The day began with Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby revealing he had received a report from Public Health England overnight recommending the current level of restrictions should be maintained in the city for a further two weeks after being eased in the rest of England.

He said the guidance had not made a clear case for why this was necessary and further discussions with the government were needed.

Image source, PA Media

Matt Hancock met with local leaders in the afternoon and was due to address the House of Commons at 17:00.

This was then pushed back to 21:15 and when the announcement came, the restrictions went far beyond what many had been expecting.

Alex Smith
BBC News Online

Here is a summary of the new measures announced for Leicester:

• All non-essential shops will close today
• Schools will close from Thursday and will not reopen until next term. However, they will stay open for vulnerable children and children of key workers
• People should avoid all but essential travel to, from and within Leicester
• The planned easing of rules on Saturday will not go ahead in Leicester, so pubs, restaurants, cafes, cinemas and hairdressers will stay closed
• The relaxation of shielding measures on 6 July - allowing the most clinically vulnerable to spend more time outside - will not go ahead in Leicester

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the restrictions will be subject to review in two weeks' time.

Image source, PA Media

Alex Smith
BBC News Online

Good morning.

We'll bring you the latest after the government announced stricter lockdown measures in Leicester and its surrounding suburbs.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said non-essential shops will have to shut today, and schools will close for most pupils on Thursday.

And while the rest of England can still expect to see pubs and restaurants reopen on Saturday, that will not be the case in Leicester.

Mr Hancock told the House of Commons last night the city accounted for "10% of all positive cases in the country over the past week".

Image source, Getty Images

Stricter lockdown restrictions have been announced in the city as coronavirus cases rise.

The balance between managing public health and the country's economy is still precarious.

The Health Secretary announced the controls after a surge in coronavirus cases in the area.

Mansfield Town sign former Luton Town goalkeeper Marek Stech on a two-year contract.