PEOPLE cramming onto trains in London and the South East to flee Tier 4 restrictions last night were "totally irresponsible", the Health Secretary has said.

Matt Hancock condemned the actions of tens of thousands of people who tried to leave London and parts of the South East and East of England last night before Tier 4 restrictions kicked in at midnight.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan also said people's actions last night were "wrong" and said "how would you feel if you pass the virus to an elderly relative who loses their life?"

The stricter rules, announced by the Prime Minister at 4pm yesterday, effectively cancelled Christmas in these areas and are designed to halt the spread of a new, more infectious strain of Covid-19 prevalent in these areas but hardly seen in the rest of the country.

It is now feared these people who chose to leave Tier 4 areas before the travel ban came in will now spread the new strain nationally, causing infections to soar across England and potentially overwhelming the NHS.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty had urged people to unpack their bags and stay put, but thousands upon thousands of people ignored his desperate pleas to leave their homes in London and travel to different households in every corner of the country.

Matt Hancock said: "I think those scenes were totally irresponsible. We have all got a responsibility.

“We in Government of course have a responsibility, but so does every single person.

“The plea that I have is that people will play their part, because it is only by acting – all of us – that we can get this under control.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan agreed that the scenes in the capital's train stations last night were "wrong".

He said: "What you saw yesterday was a direct consequence of the chaotic way the announcement was made.

“I understand why people want to return to see their mums, dads, elderly relations, but I think it’s wrong.

“Let me tell you why I think it’s a mistake either going yesterday or thinking about going today. Yesterday, technically speaking, you may not have been breaking the rules but you may well have the virus and not realise you have got the virus.

“You may be taking that virus with you from London to your mum, dad, elderly relations.

“We now have a vaccine being rolled out, you can see light at the end of the tunnel. How are you going to feel if you pass the virus on to an elderly relation, somebody you love, whose life could well be long and fruitful because of the vaccine, who may catch the virus and, God forbid, lose their life?”