Just a handful of shoppers were spotted on the streets grabbing their final few presents for Christmas. These pictures were captured today:
![The festive bubble policy across Tier 1, 2 and 3 areas of England will be dramatically scaled back to just Christmas Day, the Prime Minister said.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTE4NTk3OTA0.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1.
The festive bubble policy across Tier 1, 2 and 3 areas of England will be dramatically scaled back to just Christmas Day, the Prime Minister said. Photo: James Hardisty
![People in Leeds can now only mix with people outside their household or support bubble indoors on Christmas Day.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTE4NTk3OTA1.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2.
People in Leeds can now only mix with people outside their household or support bubble indoors on Christmas Day. Photo: James Hardisty
![So any plans made in the five days around Christmas will have to be cancelled.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTE4NTk3OTA2.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3.
So any plans made in the five days around Christmas will have to be cancelled. Photo: James Hardisty
![Professor Chris Whitty said there had been a “really dramatic increase in the proportion of cases” seen with the new variant.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTE4NTk3OTA3.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4.
Professor Chris Whitty said there had been a “really dramatic increase in the proportion of cases” seen with the new variant. Photo: James Hardisty
![The new variant strain of the virus which causes Covid-19 may be up to 70% more transmissible and could increase the R value by 0.4, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTE4NTk3OTA4.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5.
The new variant strain of the virus which causes Covid-19 may be up to 70% more transmissible and could increase the R value by 0.4, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. Photo: James Hardisty
![Screening tests suggested that in the South East 43% of the virus was now the new variant, in the East of England it is 59% and in London 62%.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTE4NTk3OTA5.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6.
Screening tests suggested that in the South East 43% of the virus was now the new variant, in the East of England it is 59% and in London 62%. Photo: James Hardisty