BREAKING: Covid lockdown set to end next week allowing shops, gyms and salons to reopen in Hitchin and north Herts - and fans back at Stevenage FC.

England's second national lockdown of 2020 will be lifted on 2 December, when a three-tiered system of guidlines will allow shops, gyms and hairdressers to reopen across our area and around the country.

In a digital statement to the House of Commons on Monday afternoon, PM Boris Johnson's "stay at home" instruction to the country will finally end a week on Wednesday, following tougher national instructions throughout most of November.

The government's Covid Winter Plan, lockdown will be replaced by a revised version of the tiered system of restrictions.

Across our area, non-essential shops, gyms, hairdressers and leisure facilities will reopen once again.

Collective worship and outdoor sports will also be able to resume - including up to a maximum of 4,000 spectators at Stevenage FC.

Fans will be allowed back into outdoor sports stadiums in areas with the lowest cases of coronavirus - including Hertfordshire, as Nub News has already reported.

Pubs and restaurants will be allowed to re-open in Tier 1 and Tier 2, but must remain as takeaway-only services in Tier 3.

The PM also said tiers will now be a uniform set of rules - rather than local authorities being able to negotiate their own extra restrictions.

He added the UK wants, needs and deserves "some kind of Christmas" - but rules on gatherings and travel over the festive period are still yet to be confirmed.