What are the rule changes from today?

The latest set of rule changes have come into force today (March 29) as Atherstone and the rest of the UK begin to emerge from the third national lockdown.

The roadmap announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in February will hopefully see all social restrictions lifted at the end of June.

The changes from today are the second half of Step One.

From today you will be able to:

- Meet outdoors (including in private gardens) in groups of either six people (the Rule of Six) or two households will also be allowed, making it easier for friends and families to meet outside.

- Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and open-air swimming pools, will also be allowed to reopen, and people will be able to take part in formally organised outdoor sports.

- The 'stay at home' rule will end on 29 March. But people should continue to work from home, and foreign travel is for the most part still banned.

Also, from April 1, those who have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable will no longer be advised to shield. However, they should continue to take extra precautions to protect themselves.

On Thursday, MPs voted to extend the Coronavirus Act until October, which allows government to introduce restrictions such as lockdowns. However, this does not mean the lockdown will be extended until November.

The act was due to expire in March 2022, but requires renewal every six months and extending it provides the legal framework for the lockdown roadmap to go ahead as planned, which proposes restrictions will be lifted on June 21.

Step Two of the rule changes will come into affect from April 12.