THOUSANDS of Londoners have defied the Authorities and fled the capital after Boris Johnson cancelled Christmas for thousands and thousands within the South East.
Town’s stations had been mentioned to be like “struggle zones” as locals skipped city earlier than the restrictions got here into impact at midnight.
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Lengthy queues of visitors on the A40 in London tonight after Boris Johnson’s Tier 4 announcementCredit score: Chris Eades
Folks look forward to trains at a packed Paddington stationCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation
Folks rushed in direction of the obstacles at ‘struggle zone’ St Pancras
This got here hours after Professor Chris Whitty begged individuals to not flee, warning: “If in case you have packed a bag, unpack it.”
However, dramatic footage have emerged tonight of lengthy queues of visitors leaving the town together with packed practice stations as individuals try to keep away from the brutal new restrictions.
In St Pancras station a whole lot of individuals have been filmed dashing in direction of the trains leaving the capital.
Related frantic scenes had been pictured at Paddington station and King’s Cross.
Site visitors on the A40 leaving London was jammed within the hours after Mr Johnson’s bombshell announcement.
Commmuter Harriet Clugston, who filmed the scenes at St Pancras, in contrast the scenes to the town of Saigon through the Vietnam Warfare earlier than the Viet Cong invaded.
She tweeted: “Final practice out of Saigon. Queue at St Pancras as we wait to board the Leeds-bound practice.”
“As anticipated, practice is crammed,” she later wrote.
Harriet mentioned that officers introduced that “social distancing won’t be attainable” within the packed practice.
Chris Whitty informed Londoners to not flee the capitalCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation
Tier 4 restrictions come into pressure at midnightCredit score: Chris Eades
One other Twitter consumer posted: “Mate St Pancras seemed like a struggle zone tonight. Euston very tame as compared.”
Journey and totally different households mixing will likely be banned underneath the new highest level tier – with households elsewhere solely allowed to kind ‘Christmas bubbles’ on December 25 itself, the PM informed the nation right this moment.
Mr Johnson informed round 18 million Brits in Tier 4 the powerful crackdown will assist save lives with a brand new mutant pressure of the virus sweeping by way of the south of England.
He mentioned: “Sure, Christmas this 12 months will likely be very totally different, however we have to be reasonable.
“We’re sacrificing our likelihood to see family members this Christmas, so we now have a greater likelihood of defending their lives so we will see them at future Christmases. “
The PM warned the nation he couldn’t ignore the terrifying new pressure and vowed: “We’ve to behave to guard the general public.”
Mr Johnson mentioned: “As Prime Minister, it’s my obligation to take the tough choices, to do what is true to guard the individuals of this nation.
“Given the early proof we now have on this new variant of the virus, and the potential threat it poses, it’s with a heavy coronary heart that I have to inform you we can not proceed with Christmas as deliberate.
“I sincerely imagine there is no such thing as a different open to me.”
He mentioned individuals can be “disenchanted” however vowed he was following the science as a result of the new rapidly-spreading strain.
The PM mentioned he “bitterly regretted” cancelling holidays for thousands and thousands of individuals. The brand new restrictions can be reviewed once more on December 30.
Folks all through England are suggested to “keep native” and keep away from abroad journey, whereas these in Tier 4 will solely have the ability to go overseas for important enterprise.
There have been 27,000 constructive Covid-19 instances recorded right this moment, the newest stats confirmed.
Boris Johnson has cancelled Christmas for thousands and thousands of BritsCredit score: Getty – Pool
Professor Whitty urged individuals to not pack their baggage and flee the capitalCredit score: Sky Information
