Coronavirus: New rules for parts of England and Wales

Rhondda Cynon Taf has seen a "rapid" rise in cases of coronavirus

Tougher lockdown restrictions for the north-east of England have come into force, while people in a second county in Wales also have stricter rules to follow because of rising coronavirus cases.

The new restrictions came into force overnight for nearly two million people living in areas including Newcastle, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside, County Durham and Northumberland.

The leader of Newcastle City Council has said it is "not a full lockdown".

The changes include restrictions on households mixing and more limits on people using public transport.

Restaurants are only be able to offer table service and restaurants and bars and pubs will have to shut between 10pm and 6am.

Meanwhile, 240,000 people who live in Rhondda Cynon Taf also have tougher rules to follow after Wales' Health Minister Vaughan Gething said there had been a "rapid" rise in coronavirus cases there.

The local lockdown came into force at 6pm on Thursday.

Restaurants and pubs there now have to shut by 11pm every day, and from 6pm every day, people will not be able to enter or leave the area without a reasonable excuse, for example travel for work or education.

People are also be banned from meeting up with other households - people they don't live with - indoors.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said this week that being tough now is a way to make sure the country is able to enjoy Christmas.

He also said the government plans to help protect care homes from coronavirus in the winter.