Cheshire East is to remain in tier two over the Christmas holiday period, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced.

Rates of infection are currently at 119 cases per 100,000 for the borough in the most recent data.

Under the restrictions non-essential retail can remain open, but hospitality venues, including pubs, can only operate if they are serving a 'substantial meal'.

Mixing with other households in any indoor setting is also banned.

The new rules and the tiers will continue to be assessed every two weeks with the next review due in the final week of December.

Mr Hancock told Parliament today that there are 18,038 people in hospital with coronavirus across the UK and it he said it had to be borne in mind the winter months were always the most difficult for people's health.

Therefore, the government is exercising caution over tier movement and only two areas are being moved down a tier as a result of falling infection rates; Bristol and North Somerset will move into tier two and Herefordshire will move from tier two to tier one.

But several areas, including Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire have been placed into tier three, which means a total of 38 million people in England will be living under the highest Covid-19 restrictions from this Saturday.

"We've come so far, we mustn't blow it now," said the Health Secretary.

Cheshire East Council leader Sam Corcoran says it is wrong that the government has not consulted with local authorities before making the tiering decision.

The borough's infection rates peaked around 250 per 100,000 population in the middle of last month, but had dropped down to 115 per 100,000 as the impact of the lockdown took effect.

But they have increased marginally in recent days and Cllr Corcoran warned: "It (infection rate) has started to go up again, which is worrying and I would urge people to remember the basics, wear a mask and stay two metres apart.

"Covid-19's incubation period is up to 10 days so this is the worst time to catch it as people would be highly infectious at Christmas time without having any symptoms."

And these are the tier two rules that people in Crewe and elsewhere in Cheshire East will still need to stick to:

- Households will not be allowed to mix indoors in any setting.

- The 'Rule of Six' applies outdoors in public spaces and private gardens.

- Pubs and restaurants allowed to open, but alcohol can only be served with food.

* and orders cannot be taken after 10pm and they must close by 11pm.

- Indoor entertainment venues will be allowed to reopen, also with an 11pm curfew.

- Public attendance at indoor and outdoor events allowed, but to a maximum of 2,000 people outdoors and 1,000 indoors, or 50 per cent capacity, whichever is lower.

- Schools to remain open.

- Weddings and Civil Ceremonies allowed 15 guests and 15 at receptions.

- Up to 30 people allowed at funerals, with 15 allowed at linked commemorative events such as wakes.

- Outdoor sport can continue.

- Indoor sport is only permissible with members of one household.

The new rules and the tiers will continue to be assessed every two weeks with Prime Minister Boris Johnson having promised MPs the current regulations will have a "sunset of 3 February."