Normal life was put on hold for up to a year last night after Boris Johnson was told that it was the only way to save a quarter of a million lives.

In restrictions unprecedented in peacetime, the prime minister urged Britons not to go to pubs and theatres, to work from home if they could, and to stop non-essential travel.

He emphasised that the advice was “particularly important” for the 8.8 million people who are aged 70 or above in Britain. They were urged to avoid other people “as much as you can and significantly limit your face-to-face interaction with friends and family”.

Prime minister announces new coronavirus measures

Mr Johnson dramatically intensified his response to coronavirus after scientists told him that a quarter of a million people would