The PM slapped draconian new Tier 4 measures on London, the South East and East of England, admitting "bitter regret" at axing family get-togethers.

The new strain is 70 per cent more contagious and on the brink of overwhelming hospitals in the worst-hit areas.

Mr Johnson told 18million people they must "sacrifice" Christmas this year.

Travel and mixing households are banned from today under the new highest level resctrictions - with families elsewhere only allowed to form Christmas bubbles for one day on December 25 itself.

The drastic move will dash families' hopes of Christmas together after a torrid year and force millions of people to stay home for weeks to come.

Almost 18million people live in the new Tier 4 areas - with restrictions similar to the second national lockdown in November,