PEOPLE from different households in Bury are banned from meeting each other indoors from midnight tonight, it has just been announced.

Matt Hancock, Health Secretary, made the announcement on Twitter just minutes ago.

The move follows a spike in coronavirus cases in the North of England.

So from tomorrow people from different households in Greater Manchester, will no longer be allowed to meet each other indoors.

The same rule applies to parts of East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire as part of "immediate action" to keep people safe, Mr Hancock said.

It comes just weeks after the Government allowed people from two households to meet inside as lockdown restrictions were eased.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham welcomed the measures, which he said would be reviewed on a weekly basis.

Mr Hancock said: "We're consistently looking at the latest data on the spread of coronavirus, and unfortunately we've seen an increasing rate of transmission in parts of Northern England.

"We take this actions with a heavy heart, but we can see increasing rates of covid across Europe and are determined to do whatever is necesary to keep people safe.

"The spread is largely households meeting and not abiding to social distancing.

"So from midnight tonight, people from different households will not be allowed to meet each other indoors in these areas."

Mr Burnham said "by not acting selfishly" the measures could be removed more quickly.

He added: "Over recent days, there has been a marked change in the picture across Greater Manchester with regard to the spread of Covid-19.

"We have gone from a falling rate of cases in nearly all of our boroughs last week to a rising rate in nine out of 10 affecting communities across a much wider geography. In Rochdale, the one borough where cases have fallen, they are still too high.

"We have always said that we will remain vigilant and be ready to respond quickly should the need arise. In line with that approach, I have agreed with the Health Secretary that it is right to act on the precautionary principle and introduce modest measures now to bring down the rate of new infections.

"I ask all Greater Manchester residents - young and old alike - to protect each other by observing these new requirements. They will be reviewed weekly, meaning the more we stick to them, the quicker they will be removed."

Mr Burnham said he understands that at the pub people must stay within their households/bubble and there are to be no visitors to your home or garden from midnight.

The rule applies to the whole of Greater Manchester, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Rossendale, Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees.

The same restrictions will apply to Leicester.