Scotland and England have been plunged into national lockdowns again as coronavirus cases continue to rise at rapid rates across the UK.

The lockdowns are the most stringent restrictions that both north and south of the border have seen since last March, and have been prompted by the spread of a mutant coronavirus strain.

Rules for places of worship in the two countries differ though, with Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon ordering places of worship there to close, even for private prayer. The exception to the Scottish lockdown is the islands, which remain in tier 3.