BRADFORD looks set to soon be moved into Tier 4 restrictions by the Government as the Prime Minister tries to avoid placing Britain into another national lockdown.

It is understood Boris Johnson is chairing a meeting of his Covid committee today, and it is believed the first move we are likely to hear is that all remaining areas in Tier 3 - including Bradford and the rest of West and North Yorkshire - will be shifted into the strictest Tier 4.

This would place every area of England bar the Isles of Scilly in Tier 4 - effectively another national lockdown.

Speaking during a visit to Chase Farm Hospital in north London today to meet some of the first people to receive the Oxford vaccine, Mr Johnson said there were “tough, tough” weeks to come.

He said: “If you look at the numbers there’s no question we will have to take tougher measures and we will be announcing those in due course.”

It comes as Mr Johnson faces increasing pressure from top scientists, Labour and even his own Conservative MPs to act faster and more decisively.

Almost a fortnight ago, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) concluded at a meeting on December 22 that schools needed to be closed and a national lockdown may be necessary if there was to be any hope of getting the “R” rate of reproduction back below 1.

Yesterday, Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer called for a nationwide 'March-style' lockdown, which would see all schools closed, to stem the spread of the virus, and Tory MP Neil O'Brien said "something big" needs to be done to "slow the explosive growth and stop hospitals being overwhelmed further".

Starmer also criticised the Prime Minister's prized tiered system of restrictions, saying it "isn't working".

Christina Pagel, director of the Clinical Operational Research Unit at University College London, said: “There are now almost 25,000 people with COVID-19 in English hospitals — 32 per cent more than the April peak.”