Leeds drinkers enjoyed a final night out before new restrictions at midnight as Wigan, Stockport and Blackpool prepared to go into lockdown. Punters were seen crowding on pavements outside pubs while others took a seat and down their pints with friends. Residents in the city will be banned from socialising with other people outside of their own households or support bubble in private homes and gardens from Saturday. They will also be advised not to socialise with anyone outside their household in public venues, including bars, restaurants and parks. The Department of Health and Social Care said some wards in West Yorkshire were exempt from existing restrictions on gatherings introduced at the start of August, but these wards will now also be subject to the ban. As announced this week, childcare bubbles will be able to be formed to help families care for children under 14, as long as their carers are consistent. This includes formal and informal childcare arrangements. Around 17million Britons are now living under tougher coronavirus restrictions than the rest of nation after health chiefs on Friday confirmed extra measures were to be imposed on the four areas in the north west as well as parts of Wales. London was also placed on the national lockdown watchlist because of a spike in cases and hos+pital admissions as government advisers warned the capital's R rate may now be as high as 1.5 - the same level seen in the North West, North East and the Midlands, which have all been stung by additional Covid-19 measures. Number 10 's expert panel SAGE also warned the reproductive rate of the virus may be as high as that for the UK overall. It is the advisory body's highest projection since it began tracking how quickly the disease was growing back in June and is slightly up on last week's estimate of 1.1 - 1.4.