Don't miss a thing by getting the day's biggest stories sent direct to your inbox Downing Street has admitted that communications on local guidance for coronavirus hotspots caused 'confusion'.
The government made a U-turn on Tuesday after guidance published online on Friday without prior announcement warned people not to travel in or out of the eight hotspots where there is a surge of the Indian variant.
It adivsed against all but essential travel in Bolton, Leicester, Kirklees, Hounslow, Bedford, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley and North Tyneside, as well as encouraging people living in affected areas to 'meet outside rather than inside where possible'.