STRATFORD-on-Avon district, which includes Studley and Alcester, will move into the toughest Covid-19 restrictions of tier four alongside Warwickshire.

This means people must stay at home, except for permitted reasons and all but essential shops must close.

Hospitality venues, such as pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants remain closed except for takeaway. You are also only able to meet with one other person from another household in a public, outdoor space.

The restrictions also mean that the district council's leisure centres in Alcester, Shipston, Southam, Stratford and Studley will have to close.

Nearby Redditch has been moved into tier three with the rest of Worcestershire.

This follows a challenge made by the Stratford-on-Avon District Council to "retract" the decision to put the district in the tier three along with the rest of Warwickshire, and instead place it into tier one or two.

The council sent a judicial review pre-action protocol (PAP) letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

According to the latest figures Stratford-on-Avon's infection rate is now 174 cases per 100,000 people with 227 cases of Covid-19 confirmed in the District between December 19 and December 25, this is an increase of 37 from the previous week.

Cllr Tony Jefferson, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: "It is disappointing that cases have been increasing steadily across the district with the natural spread of the virus. We have done well to keep it at bay to some extent and not see the rapid case rises seen in other parts of the county.

"Being put into the highest tier is of continued concern for the area, in particular our businesses, but with transmission rates of the virus increasing across the country there was an inevitability about the decision.

"The latest figures for positive cases and hospital beds with Covid patients leave us with no choice but to accept Tier 4."

Covid Business Rates Grants will be available while tier four restrictions remain in place.