The Christmas Bubble has been slashed to just one day as Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new Covid-19 restrictions to help combat a more infectious 'mutant' strain.

The move also saw nearby Peterborough, along with London and much of the South East, placed into a new Tier 4, with restrictions similar to those of the first lockdown.

Rutland remains in Tier 2; Melton, Leicester, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire also remain in Tier 3.

Tonight, Rutland MP Alicia Kearns defended the Prime Minister and the changes, which have seen the Christmas Bubble reduced from December 23-27 to just Christmas Day itself across the entire country, including Rutland.

Mrs Kearns said on social media: "Today's decisions are ones no Prime Minister wanted to make. It's PM's foremost responsibility to keep our people safe. We face an enemy we cannot see, but that does not mean that the response is any different. In pandemic, Government must make decisions sometimes on an hourly basis.

"It is absolutely right that the Prime Minister make urgent changes to protect us all. He is doing what it takes, and that is the brave and right thing to do.

"The change in the situation we face is just too stark for us not to act. But many will be upset, and I understand that.

"I sympathise hugely with all across country no longer able to see extended families and friends at Christmas. After a very hard and difficult year, many of us had been looking forward to time with our loved ones. Also disappointing for those solely able to see bubbles on Christmas day itself."

The MP continued: "350,000 people have had vaccine so far and I expect to have vaccination centres up and running in Oakham and Melton before Christmas. Residents of Rutland and Melton will already have been invited to vaccination, and some vaccinated at Leicester General, or in Lincolnshire or Nottinghamshire.

"Vaccine gives us a light at end of the tunnel. While restrictions are relaxed for Xmas day, an abundance of caution leading up to day will help keep everyone safe. The virus and new strain are still circulating and rates rising or holding steady in Rutland and Melton, not going down."

The Tier 4 rules come into effect tomorrow (Sunday, December 20) and mean that "non-essential" shops including clothes stores and hairdressers as well as gyms will have to close.

The changes come just days after Peterborough was upgraded from Tier 2 to Tier 3. London also experienced a similar move.

Tier 4 rules

• residents must stay at home, apart from limited exemptions
• non-essential retail, indoor gyms and leisure facilities and personal care services must close
• residents must work from home if they can, unless this is not possible eg manufacturing and construction sectors
• they should not enter or leave tier 4 areas
• Tier 4 residents must not stay overnight away from home
• you can only meet one person from another household in an outdoor public space
• communal worship can continue to take place