UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that Greater London and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire in the south of England will move into the strictest tier of restrictions from 12:01am on 16 December.

That means people living in tier three areas are unable to mix indoors, while pubs and restaurants can only stay open for delivery and takeaway.

Indoor entertainment venues, such as casinos and bingo halls, must close, while supporters are again unable to attend sports matches in the affected regions.

The whole of Greater London must enforce the new measures, as well as the south and west of Essex, including Braintree, Chelmsford and Harlow, with Watford and Broxbourne among the affected areas in the south of Hertfordshire.

Football fans of London clubs were only allowed to attend matches on 2 December for the first time since March, with Arsenal being the first Premier League side to welcome back its supporters.

While casinos have again been forced shut in the nation’s capital after reopening earlier this month, following a month-long closure as England re-entered into a national lockdown.

It was only 15 August that such venues first reopened after closing in mid-March, with the latest news a hammer blow for the casino industry. Hippodrome CEO Simon Thomas previously said he was “delighted and excited” at the London-based casino’s reopening on 2 December, with “hygiene protocols” in place to “ensure the continued safety of our customers and staff.”