People in Oldham, Blackburn and parts of Pendle will be told not to socialise with anyone from outside their household from midnight on Saturday to slow the spread of coronavirus.

While preventing businesses from closing, the Department of Health and Social Care said the measures mean social activities indoors and outdoors can only be shared by people who live in the same home.

Residents will also be told to avoid using public transport except for essential travel.

Meanwhile, measures will be relaxed in Wigan, Rossendale and Darwen, while Birmingham is added to a watch list as an “area of enhanced support” and Northampton becomes an “area of intervention”.

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