TIGHTER lockdown rules have been introduced in Ilkley and parts of the surrounding area under new restrictions across the whole of the Bradford district.

Confusion about the exact locations included in the clampdown followed the sudden announcement by health minister Matt Hancock last night.

Explaining who the restrictions will apply to, Bradford Council's CEO Kersten England said: "All those who pay council tax to Bradford, who vote in Bradford council elections and who have their bins lifted by Bradford council etc. Not postcode based."

Ilkley's MP Robbie Moore tweeted last night: "For clarity, this includes all households situated within the Keighley and Ilkley constituency."

People from different households across Greater Manchester, parts of East Lancashire and West Yorkshire have been banned from meeting each other indoors.

The announcement, which came unexpectedly and with a few hours notice late last night came into force at midnight.

The move comes as celebrations take place for the Muslim festival of Eid al Adha, which started on Thursday evening and continues over the weekend, and after the Government reimposed quarantine measures for those arriving in the UK from Spain and Luxembourg earlier this week.

The new rules, which were introduced following a spike in virus cases, will also ban members of two different households from mixing in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues, however these businesses will remain open for those visiting individually or from the same household.

Mr Hancock said "households gathering and not abiding by the social distancing rules" was a reason for the stricter rules and it was in order to "keep the country safe".

He said: "We take this action with a heavy heart but unfortunately it's necessary because we've seen that households meeting up and a lack of social distancing is one of the causes of this rising rate of coronavirus and we'll do whatever is necessary to keep the country safe."

Mr Hancock added: "We're constantly vigilant and we've been looking at the data, and unfortunately we've seen across parts of northern England an increase in the number of cases of coronavirus.

"So, today, I held a meeting of the Government's Gold Committee and working with local leaders, including, for instance, Andy Burnham the mayor of Greater Manchester, we've decided that we need to take action across Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire.

"So, from midnight tonight we are banning households meeting up indoors."

The new restrictions apply to the whole of Greater Manchester, parts of East Lancashire including Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale and parts of West Yorkshire including Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees.