Downing Street has signalled that more areas could face bans on household mixing as Boris Johnson came under pressure to harden lockdown measures.
The Prime Minister stopped short of banning meet-ups between different households when he announced a swathe of new coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday.
His decision sets England at odds with Scotland and Northern Ireland, where restrictions on indoor gatherings with other households have been imposed.
Different households are banned from meeting up at home in all local lockdown areas in England - and most areas also apply the ban in pubs and restaurants.