UK

Fresh warnings for snow and ice today and later this week have been issued by weather forecasters as the cold snap is expected to continue into 2021. Up to 15cm (six inches) of snow could fall in some areas, including southern England, on Wednesday and early on New Year’s Eve. It comes as drivers were

The UK has recorded its highest daily increase in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began with 41,385 positive tests . A further 357 deaths were recorded within 28 days of a positive test bringing the UK total to 71,109 It compares to yesterday’s increases of 30,501 confirmed coronavirus cases and 316 related deaths. Dr Yvonne

Hospital admissions in England are nearing the level of the first peak, with one ambulance service reporting that Boxing Day was one of its busiest ever days. There were 21,286 people in hospital with coronavirus in the UK on 22 December, the last day for which government figures are available. This is only slightly less

Snow and ice warnings are in place for much of the UK heading into the bank holiday, including as far south as London, as vast swathes of the country are braced for a cold snap in the aftermath of Storm Bella. It comes as around 100 flood warnings remain in force in England, along with

The pharmaceutical boss behind the Oxford vaccine says researchers have found a “winning formula” to improve the jab’s efficacy. Trials of the vaccine, developed by the university along with AstraZeneca, showed an efficacy rate of 90% when people were given half a dose followed by a whole dose at least a month later. When two

Storm Bella is forecast to bring yet more strong gales and heavy rain to the UK after severe flooding in certain areas. The wet and stormy weather is expected to continue into the southeast of England on Sunday with showers in the West and North. A yellow warning for wind has been issued for the

Severe flood warnings, meaning lives are at risk, have been issued on Boxing Day for the Bedford area and three other places. The Environment Agency said there had been heavy rain across the Great Ouse catchment and more was expected, bringing “significant disruption to the community” and also possibly affecting electricity services. Also covered by

Millions more people across the UK have been placed under tighter coronavirus restrictions from today. Another six million in England have been placed in Tier 4, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have also imposed harsher measures on their citizens on Boxing Day. The Tier 4 restrictions – effectively a regional lockdown – now also affect

Millions of people in the UK are spending a historic Christmas Day apart from loved ones as restrictions limit the number of people who can meet in a household. Families had originally hoped to be taking advantage of a five-day relaxation of measures from 23 to 27 December, but the emergence of a more transmissible

More than a thousand people have been forced to flee a caravan park in a “major incident” after it was flooded on Christmas Eve. Emergency services began moving people out of the Billing Aquadrome holiday park in Northamptonshire on Thursday afternoon after the county was hit by heavy rain. Image: Three adults in a car

Less than a week after the UK learned of a new COVID-19 variant that is up to 70% more infectious, a second one has been found. Here’s what we know so far: Where did the second coronavirus variant come from and how many cases have been found? Two cases have been detected in the UK

Two cases of a new, “more transmissible” COVID-19 variant linked to South Africa have been identified in the UK, the health secretary has said. Both cases are contacts of people who travelled from South Africa over the last few weeks, Matt Hancock said at a Downing Street news conference. Those with the new variant, and

Scuffles have broken out at Dover as stranded lorry drivers clash with police. Several thousand lorries have been stuck near the Kent port after France stopped them crossing the Channel due to the new variant of coronavirus. They have been lined up on the motorway and at nearby Manston airfield after the French government took

Germany has extended its ban on travellers arriving from the UK to 6 January, despite the EU telling countries to lift restrictions to allow essential journeys and minimise trade disruption. “The German government has extended its ban on air passenger flights arriving from the UK to Germany to a ban on all forms of transport

England has been put on notice for a New Year lockdown after the government’s chief scientific adviser demanded a massive extension of Tier 4 restrictions. With the new variant now surging across the UK, an announcement that large areas of England will join London and parts of southeast England in Tier 4 is expected on

Stormont executive ministers are holding an emergency meeting following a row over whether a travel ban should be introduced. Health minister Robin Swann has recommended issuing guidance advising against non-essential travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. Mr Swann has also advised that anyone arriving into the region