Hardy revellers across Britain have braved lockdown restrictions, freezing temperatures and even the mutant Covid virus to enjoy a few hours of freedom.
In York, a number of people dressed in festive garb were spotted in the city centre, though numbers were definitely down on previous years.
Several people posed, though with shops reporting massive decreases in footfall compared with last Christmas Eve, it was hardly surprising there were less people out at night.
This woman in York was one of the few people spotted getting into the Christmas spirit hours before the arrival of Santa
With bars and restaurants across the country closed and restrictions on meeting with people from other households, many decided to avoid going out
Others enjoyed a quiet night in a restaurant ahead of tomorrow’s big day
Millions more people will be under the toughest coronavirus restrictions from Boxing Day as the UK implemented a travel ban on South Africa amid concerns over another new strain of Covid-19.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned the ‘highly concerning’ new variant is believed to be more transmissible than the mutant strain that resulted in the creation of the new Tier 4 restrictions.
More than 40 per cent of England’s population are settling in for lockdown conditions from Boxing Day after a further six million people were placed under Tier 4 restrictions.
Mr Hancock said the UK’s variant coronavirus was spreading at a ‘dangerous rate’ as he announced the measures, which include tough restrictions on mixing with people and the closure of non-essential shops.
This woman wearing a Santa hat and a mask walked through York City Centre
Major shopping areas reported fewer customers while only a mall percentage of people risked venturing out for a walk
Ordinarily on Christmas Eve these streets would be filled with revellers enjoying a few drinks before going home for the festivities
Huge swathes of the country will be entering Tier 4 after Christmas, with more set to follow
These two young ladies were spotted out in Liverpool city centre earlier this evening
Much of the south east of England is being placed into Tier four, but so far the north is escaping the added restrictions
The changes were made as Government figures showed a further 744 people were reported to have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, the highest
Areas moving to Tier 4 from Boxing Day are: Sussex, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, those parts of Essex not yet in Tier 4, Waverley in Surrey and Hampshire – including Portsmouth and Southampton but with the exception of the New Forest.
Tier 4 restrictions include a warning to stay at home, a limit on household mixing to two people outdoors and force the closure of many shops, hairdressers and gyms.
The measures come on top of Tier 3 restrictions such as the closure of pubs and restaurants except for takeaways and deliveries.
Police kept a weather eye over revellers in case they breached social distancing guidelines
Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset including the North Somerset council area, Swindon, the Isle of Wight, the New Forest and Northamptonshire as well as Cheshire and Warrington will all be escalated to Tier 3.
Cornwall and Herefordshire move from Tier 1 to Tier 2.
The changes mean 24 million people will now be in Tier 4, or 43 per cent of the population of England.
Northern Ireland confirmed a case of the new Covid-19 variant that was first detected in Great Britain on Wednesday evening.
This man and woman hugged each other after spending the evening out in York
This gallant gentleman carried his female friend in his arms through the streets of York
A few girls walked along the street ahead to the arrival of Santa in the morning
A woman wearing a santa ha posed on a cobbled street with a friend
Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to stay at home at Christmas to help stop the spread of Covid-19 – and especially its new mutant variant
High street retailers have taken a battering this year in the wake of the Covid restrictions. Pictured is Northumberland Street today
Shoppers on Northumberland street in Newcastle city centre this afternoon doing their shopping on Christmas Eve
In Tier 4 areas overall footfall was down by 27% from last week, while in Tier 1 the number of people in town centres rose by a quarter, according to Springboard data
Footfall across all bricks and mortar retail sites in the UK was 40% lower today than on Christmas Eve last year, with central London seeing a 79% plunge following the closure of essential shops
Businesses selling food are allowed to stay open for takeaways as they are counted as essential businesses. Pictured is the Market Porter, a pub inside the market
People enjoying a takeaway drink in Borough Market, central London, where there were thousands of visitors today
