North-East lockdown measures are "tough but necessary"

Restrictions include a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants, and a ban on socialising with people from outside your own household.

Guy Opperman told the Courant: "With winter and flu season fast approaching, doing nothing is not an option.

"These new and targeted restrictions - which apply right across Northumberland and Tyne and Wear - will mean schools can stay open and businesses and livelihoods will be protected.

"The infection rate in the Tyne Valley is relatively low compared to other parts our region, but it is rising. Proactive and comprehensive action now is vital if we are to slow down the spread of the virus.

"My hope is that as a result of this swift action we will soon see a reversal of the current situation, and in doing so we will have protected the most vulnerable in our communities."

Before the announcement the health secretary, Matt Hancock, said the Government had seen 'concerning' rates of infection.

He explained: "We've seen concerning rates of infection in the North-East, Sunderland now has an incidence rate of 103 positive cases per 100,000 population.

"In South Tyneside, Gateshead and Newcastle, the figures are all above 70, as a result local authorities wrote to me earlier this week asking for tighter restrictions and we've taken swift action to put them in place."

As his speech came to a close, Mr Hancock said that the people of the North-East will “come together” to beat the virus.

He said: “I know, the whole House knows, that these decisions have a real impact on families, on businesses and on local communities and I can tell everyone affected that we do not take these decisions lightly.

“We agree with the local councils that we must follow the data and act and the data says that we must act now so that we can control the virus and keep people safe.

“And I know that the people of the North East will come together to beat this virus, as defeat it we must," he added.