tonight at six — 12,000 more jobs at risk as another big high street name collapses. more than two centuries after it was founded, debenhams could close its doors for good — but not until they've sold off all their stock. we won't have any shopping centres left. we'll have no town centres left. it's not really kept up with the online development and its competitors. really puts it into perspective how much covid's affecting everybody. since the start of the pandemic, tens of thousands ofjobs have been lost in retail alone. also tonight... putting up the decorations — but this pub in tier 3 will remain closed when england's lockdown ends at midnight — a tough christmas ahead a 23—year—old woman who regrets

taking drugs to transition to a man asa taking drugs to transition to a man as a teenager say she is delighted after a landmark high court ruling. i'm delighted at the judgment of the court today. it was a judgment that will protect vulnerable people. i wish it had been made for me before i embarked on the devastating experiment of puberty blockers. with the covid vaccine immient, the world health orgnaistation warns about misinformation being spread about the safety of the jab. and the formula 1 world champion lewis hamilton will miss this weekend's grand prix in bahrain — after testing postive for coronavirus. he says he is devastated and coming up in the sport on bbc news... newcastle united's coronavirus outbreak forces their match at aston villa to be postponed — the first top flight match called off since the league resumed. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. it's one of the oldest

names on the high street. now debenhams is set to close — putting 12,000 jobs at risk. the company, which was founded 2a2 years ago, went into administration earlier this year. efforts to find a buyer have so far failed. around 6,500 jobs have already been cut at the store since may. now 12,000 more face redundancy. it comes just hours after the arcadia group — with brands like topshop and miss selfridge — went into adminsitration, putting 13,000 jobs at risk. for now, debenhams stores and its website will remain open but liquidators are moving in tomorrow to start to clear the stock, and if no other alternative offer is available the stores will all be closed by the end of march next year. our business correspondent, emma simpson, reports. debenhams, a big part of bristol for half a century. anchor stores in so many towns and cities, like

brighton. i think it's really sad, used to work for them a long time ago. and on the corner in leeds. but for how much longer? we won't have any shopping centres left, town centres left when everybody shops online. in edinburgh today, nostalgia from younger shoppers, too. i know girls that bought their prom dresses there. it is memories, you know what i mean? and staff arriving for work to find out that when the doors open tomorrow, the stock starts to be cleared, liquidation and a closing down sale. i think it has been a long, slow decline for debenhams. that hasn't really changed. it has been a co nsta nt really changed. it has been a constant presence through the decades, but its problems have been many years in the making. an incredibly sad day. sir ian cheshire was chairman months before debenhams went into administration last year. and then limped on, controlled by its lenders. if you are caught with a lot of fixed cost long leases, and

you can't adapt, you are likely to be one of the casualties, basically in the straitjacket of its debts and long leases. but the pandemic tipped debenhams into administration again during lockdown. jd sports had been closing in on a rescue deal, but they got cold feet and pulled out this morning. the last remaining bidder. in a statement, the administrators said, the economic landscape is extremely challenging and, coupled with the uncertainty facing the uk retail industry, a viable deal could not be reached. the administrator is' absolute priority in a situation like this is to try to get the best possible returns for creditors. so the total focus will be on that, and sadly that does not mean a long—term focus on keeping those stores open, not even to on keeping those stores open, not eve n to preserve on keeping those stores open, not even to preservejobs. all they on keeping those stores open, not even to preserve jobs. all they can really do now is focusing on getting as much money for the stock in the stores as possible. in many ways, this is the worst week of a high street retail we have ever seen. it

is not just street retail we have ever seen. it is notjust the 25,000 jobs on the line, it is the role that these stores play, especially in smaller towns. the pandemic has created nightmare conditions for our strongest traditional retailers. now, the weaker ones are falling by the wayside. dozens of brands have already gone and done some have disappeared from the high street altogether. debenhams is now preparing for its last ever christmas. all its stores are set to close by march next year, unless an alternative last—minute offer is received. emma simpson, bbc news. and our business editor simon jack joins me now. so manyjobs so many jobs in so manyjobs in retail have been cut 01’ so manyjobs in retail have been cut orare at so manyjobs in retail have been cut or are at risk now. is there any hope at all for debenhams?m doesn't look great, but you can never rule out a last—minute bid. mike ashley is never far behind, when a distressed retailer is on the block. he used to own a chunk of

debenhams, that got wiped out when it went into administration the first time. he made an offer that they thought was lower than the value ofjust liquidating the stock, as emma was describing. i think the chances of that are lower. people may pick up bits and pieces of this as we go along, but i think the one thing that is really bleak is the employment outlook. lots and lots of jobs are going there. it is an environment where there are no other high street roles for them to move into. not only that, across the economy, unemployment is rising very quickly. so, the options are limited for people that will be losing their jobs. i think the outlook does look very difficult indeed. it is tempting to say the high street retail is doomed. that's not quite true. people like next are still making money, marks & spencer is making money, marks & spencer is making a revival. but as emma said, this is a cull of the week. the pandemic has exposed those wea knesses pandemic has exposed those weaknesses and killed them off. and

weaknesses and killed them off. and we have seen what has been happening for a long time now happening very quickly. mps will vote shortly on the government's plan to introduce a tiered system of coronavirus restrictions in england, when lockdown ends at midnight. dozens of conservative mps have questioned the new measures, arguing the restrictions should be targeted at smaller areas. but if the government wins the vote as expected, from midnight tonight, more than 23 million people will be moved into the toughest tier — tier 3. there's no socialising indoors or in private gardens. pubs and restaurants can only do takeaways. more than 32 million will be in tier 2. again, no mixing inside, but up to six people can meet outdoors. and you can go to restaurants or pubs that serve substantial meals with people you live with. tier1 has the lightest restrictions, but fewer than three quarters of a million people are in tier1— where up to six people from different households can socialise indoors. 0ur deputy political editor

vicki young now reports. tomorrow, lancaster will wake up under the strictest covid measures. we cannot afford to relax, especially during the cold months of winter. in westminster, the prime minister makes his case for a regional tier system. but many here say it is unfair — the city has fewer cases than much of the rest of lancashire. phil is putting up decorations at the sun pub, but is worried no—one will be coming through the to see them. no—one will be coming through the door to see them. we've moved into zombie mode. we are losing money every single week, in an area that should be tier 2, potentially pushing for tier 1. but due to the fact that they won't split the county of lancashire, which is a massive county, we are being put in tier 3. so itjust seems unnecessary. it's economic harm for the sake of it. it's painful and it's been hugely frustrating for everybody in lancaster. because it serves food, this bar won't benefit from a new one off payment of £1,000.

borisjohnson says he understands the burden on the hospitality industry, and his message to mps — the end is in sight. this is not a return to normality. i wish it were so. but it is a bit closer to normality than the present restrictions. and what we can't do is to lift all the restrictions at once, or move too quickly, in such a way that the virus will begin to spread rapidly again. labour won't vote for or against the restrictions, a decision downing street said showed a lack of leadership. but sir keir starmer wants more financial help for businesses. i accept the case for restrictions. we will not stand in the way of these regulations. we do not want restrictions to come off. but i am not going to stand here and pretend, as the prime minister does, that this is the plan that is going to solve it all, vote for this and it'll all be fine through to easter. that is not going to happen, and nobody should vote on that basis today. thank you, mr speaker. and dozens of conservative mps

are refusing to endorse a tougher tier system that will last until at least february. if government is to take away fundamental liberties of the people whom we represent, they must demonstrate beyond question that they are acting in a way that is both proportionate and absolutely necessary. today, madam deputy speaker, i believe the government has failed to make that compelling case. the measures, insist ministers, are all about protecting the nhs. back in lancaster, the local hospital is coping, but under pressure. today we have 85 patients in the hospital behind me who are in—patients with covid currently. and we have to be sure they are isolated from everyone else and members of staff looking after them are there. and we are actually busier than usual this year, because you have to take all of that into account, you have to take the distancing into account, and you have to take absences of staff into account as well. for people in lancaster and beyond, life in the pandemic will be even more of a struggle

through the winter months. borisjohnson is boris johnson is holding borisjohnson is holding a remote meeting with his mps right now, trying to persuade them to get behind his plans. he won't lose this vote, but dozens of them are unhappy. some don't think they are getting enough information to assess the impact of the restrictions, others think that the system isn't working because whole counties are being put into the same tier. the real fear for being put into the same tier. the realfearfor many being put into the same tier. the real fear for many of them is that, comejanuary, real fear for many of them is that, come january, boris johnson will real fear for many of them is that, comejanuary, borisjohnson will be back here once again, asking them to extend the restrictions for several more weeks. in the west midlands, where infection rates remain high, the hospitality industry is bracing itself for another period of tighter restrictions. much of the region will be on tier 3 from midnight, with no mixing of households in doors or private gardens. restaurants must remain closed apart from takeaway and delivery services, but shops, gyms

and hairdressers can reopen. it is one of birmingham's best known fine dining indian restaurants, and pa rt fine dining indian restaurants, and part of a group that employs hundreds of staff. customers used to have to book months in advance for christmas, but lasan is not doing ta keaways, christmas, but lasan is not doing takeaways, so will not reopen when the lockdown in england ends. we have been looking forward to recouping the losses of the first lockdown, being a busy december period where we would be full every day. we would have 200 covers, and sadly, without that, have great concerns over the state of the business. birmingham, along with most of the west midlands region, faces tier 3 restrictions. densely populated and with some high levels of deprivation, the rate of covid transmission had been climbing, and so transmission had been climbing, and so have the number of hospital admissions. but the impact the measures will have on people's livelihoods is causing grave concern. before the pandemic, 135,000 people worked within the

hospitality sector in the west midlands. it contributed some £12.6 billion to the local economy. but jobs have been going, and businesses are under threat. the conservative mayor of the west midlands, and the labour leader of birmingham city council have both been calling for more financial support for the sector from the government. taxis are lined up, but with nowhere to go. no office parties or christmas drinks. that means far fewer fairs. as you see, it's like a ghost town. at night time, it's completely empty. 6096 or 7096 down on our income, and it will have a great impact on us going forward. if things don't improve, i can see bankruptcies. we have to weigh tier 3 four hours, just to get fair. tier 2 would have been nice. but this christmas, i'm not going to be rocking around the christmas tree. not this year. neither will the

owners of bars or restaurants, many facing a december that could be their most challenging month yet. if you live in england and want to check which tier your area will be in and what restrictions will apply, you can enter your postcode on the bbc news website — that's bbc.co.uk/news. the latest government figures show there were 13,1130 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. that means the average number of new cases reported per day in the last week, is now 15,082. there were 1,488 people admitted to hospital on average each day over the week to last friday. and 603 deaths were reported — that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. that means on average in the past week, 460 deaths were announced every day. it takes the total number of deaths so far across the uk to 59,051

news now that will be very welcome to families with loved ones in care homes. a million coronavirus testing kits will be sent out to care homes in england this month to allow indoor visits by families of residents. visitors will have to wear personal protective equipment. our health editor hugh pym is here. this is what a lot of people have been waiting for, will it work? there has been a pilot scheme and 110w there has been a pilot scheme and now it will be rolled out further across england. it must have been judged to have been successful so far. the idea is that it involves lateral flow kits, as they are known, rapid testing, so you get a result within half an hour. the idea is that you will book an appointment and you want to visit a family member orfriend in and you want to visit a family member or friend in a and you want to visit a family member orfriend in a care home, you will be tested. if it is negative and get the result, you will be able to go in and wear ppe for the visit. with 1 to go in and wear ppe for the visit. with1 million of the kits going out this month to larger care homes. the problem is, ispoke this month to larger care homes. the problem is, i spoke to one care home operator who said he was not clear how to get these kits, they would be

a lot of administrating, booking the appointments might mean more staff. and how do you prepare people's expectation when so many people want to do these visits before christmas? in germany, at least two people — including a young girl — have been killed and several others injured after a car ploughed through a pedestrian area in the city of trier. witnesses said people screamed in panic and some were thrown into the air as the vehicle was driven at high speed through a pedestrianised street. the driver, a 51—year—old man, has been arrested but police say the circumstances of the incident are still not clear. a 23—year—old woman who began taking drugs to delay puberty when she was 16 to transition to a man has said she is delighted after a landmark high court ruling. keira bell, who regrets the treatment, took legal action against the tavistock and portman nhs trust — the uk's only clinic offering the treatment to children. the judges ruled that children under 16 are unlikely to be able to give informed consent about starting treatment. transgender rights campaigners have criticised the decision.

the tavistock says it will appeal against the ruling. here's our social affairs correspondent, alison holt. for keira bell, emerging from the high court, this judgment for keira bell, emerging from the high court, thisjudgment was for keira bell, emerging from the high court, this judgment was about decisions made as a teenager that started her on the road from transitioning from female to male. she argued she was too young to understand the impact of that treatment. the court agreed that more checks are needed. i'm delighted at the judgment of the court today. it was a judgment that will protect vulnerable people. i wish it had been made for me before i embarked on the devastating experiment of puberty blockers.- 16, keira was desperate to be a boy and given drugs to delay puberty and then at male hormones. clinicians say for some children this is the right move, but keira believes it was a mistake for her. the discussions were very brief and there was no real investigation into why i had gender dysphoria feelings

and how i got to that stage. i spoke briefly of depression and anxiety, but again, it was assumed by eve ryo ne but again, it was assumed by everyone that transitioning would alleviate that. her case was against the tavistock, the uk's only gender identity clinic for children which argued that puberty blocking drugs are only prescribed if a child can give informed consent, but today's judgment ruled it was doubtful a child under 16 could really understand the long—term plications, and for 16 understand the long—term plications, and for16 and understand the long—term plications, and for 16 and 17—year—olds, the courts might need to be involved —— long term implications. this mother who wants to remain anonymous was also involved in bringing the action. her daughter, who has autism, was on the waiting list at the clinic. the long-term effects of puberty blockers are not really known. they are given for extended periods of time at a time when you are developing your body and it needs to be exposed to hormones. it does not just halt needs to be exposed to hormones. it does notjust halt the physical development, it halts the psychological, social and emotional live element of a child. in a

statement, the tavistock says that the trust is disappointed by the judgment today and we understand the outcome is likely to cause anxiety for patients. it's a very important issue and i'm happy to be here. and 18—year—old sonia calls the judgment disheartening and wrong and says young people who want to transition like already face long waits for specialist help. it's taking more than two or three years just to get a first appointment, and that is before you even get to the prospect of discussing hormone replacement therapy and puberty blockers. for me personally, it took a huge toll on my mental health because i couldn't see light at the end of the tunnel. i had no hope. whilst it is considering the implications of today'sjudgment, the considering the implications of today's judgment, the tavistock says it is suspending all new referrals of under 16—year—old children for

drug treatments. the time is 6:19pm. our top story this evening... 12,000 morejobs at risk as high street giant debenhams is set to close, but not until its sold off all its stock. and coming up... battling the coronavirus "infodemic" — the overload of information that makes it difficult for people to make health decisions. coming up on sportsday on bbc news. controversy over the use of the video assistant referee continues, following aston villa's defeat to west ham. we'll be looking at the technology in more detail. the pandemic has been hard for children and their education, particularly during the first lockdown when schools were closed for many months. england's chief inspector of schools says the lack of monitoring and support of vulnerable children during the pandemic should be a matter of national concern. the warning is highlighted in 0fsted's annual report and warns of a legacy of neglect for children who have become invisible to services because

they are not at school. but the department for education says the safety and well—being of vulnerable children has been a priority — and that nurseries, schools, and colleges were kept open for those children during the pandemic. here's our education correspondent elaine dunkley. the children at 0ldham and bolton primary in warrington are glad to be backin primary in warrington are glad to be back in school. considering everyone used to say we don't like school, you can tell they do, because it's really nice and they know that we all love it. and for some of the most vulnerable, it is also a safety net. schools are often where signs of neglect and abuse are picked up. today's annual report by 0fsted warns that the low numbers of vulnerable children who attended school during the first national lockdown and the continuing disruption has made it difficult for teachers to identify those at risk. we are not having the conversations we would normally have. a reduction in child protection referrals is a

worrying sign that some are being missed. having eyes on the children and having that pastoral care has been really difficult, to make sure that they are ok and have a safe space to speak to us. so certainly during the first lockdown the referrals halted, if you like. really low numbers, and then also the services are really stretched, so the services are really stretched, so when we are making the referrals, they are being pushed back. we call ita they are being pushed back. we call it a line of best fit... 0fsted has also raised concerns about the number of children who have not returned to school because of fears around covid. 75,000 children are being home—schooled in england, a 38% increase since last year. this woman has not sent her daughter to school and sent —— since march and says she has been forced to choose between the education of her child and her elderly mother's health because they all live in the same house. on the one hand, we are being told by matt hancock don't kill your grandmother, but this is a day to

day reality for my child. she comes home and she sees her grandmother and we can't isolate members of the family, so all we are asking for is a little bit of common sense in the process. the government insist that schools are safe and the department for education says local authorities have been given an additional £3.7 billion to meet the demands in schools and children's services, but 0fsted warns of a legacy of neglect. for most children, getting back into school and into normal life, good teaching, home life, back into normal routines, will deal with most of the problems that might have built up, but there is a smaller proportion who desperately need that help. how are you feeling now you are back in school? teachers are having to respond to constant changes at every level of the education system and one of the biggest challenges is dealing with what happens to children outside of the school gates. a third of pupils

in school had one child out of school because of coronavirus, and it remains at 78% attendance but there are regional variations. in there are regional variations. in the north of england schools in rochdale are over 40% and other places have suddenly been hit by the impact of the virus with 16 schools in kent reported to be closed in the last ten days. with a number of potential coronavirus vaccines now imminent, there are concerns that misinformation could turn some people against having the jab. the world health organization says we're notjust fighting a health pandemic, but also what it calls an "infodemic" — where an overload of information, some of it false, makes it difficult for people to make decisions about their health. our global health reporter tulip mazumdar reports. ever since this pandemic started we have all been faced with a barrage of information about covid. it can lead to confusion, distrust, and in

some cases, protests against proven public health advice like wearing masks. now, with vaccines well on the way, there is a fresh push to celebrate —— separate fact from fiction. i spoke to trainee solicitor 0scar who is taking part in vaccine trials at imperial couege in vaccine trials at imperial college london and production designer, nina. i would like college london and production designer, nina. iwould like to college london and production designer, nina. i would like to be vaccinated because i think it is one of the only ways out of this situation. i have mixed feelings. i'm not sure how much i trust the vaccine yet, because it has happened so vaccine yet, because it has happened so quickly. preliminary research suggests exposure to some of the most widely circulated misinformation can impact people's intention to be vaccinated against infodemic. 4000 people took part in the study in the uk —— against covid—19. before they were shown the inaccurate claims, 54% said they would be vaccinated, and that figure dropped by more than 6% after they we re dropped by more than 6% after they were shown the false information. what we want is people to have the right information at the right time,

in the right format, so they can make those decisions that is good for their health and also the health of the community and their family. professor heidi larsson has been studying people's attitudes to vaccines for more than two decades. what we need to focus on is building the resilience and filling that space. you can't just the resilience and filling that space. you can'tjust take away pieces of the misinformation, one of them being safety. we can talk about them being safety. we can talk about the fact that safety processes are being followed carefully. we are short cutting other parts of that long development processing. scientists are taking to social media themselves to try and get accurate information out there. the battle against covid cannot be won in hospitals and science labs alone. pa rt in hospitals and science labs alone. part of the fight needs to happen online. a charity set up by the daily mail newspaper to get protective equipment for nhs and care workers bought facemasks from a chinese

firm which may have used forced labour. 100,000 masks bought by mail force came from a company where uighur muslims worked — a minority china is accused of oppressing. the charity said it wasn't aware of allegations when it bought the supplies, and the batch represented a tiny percentage of the 42 million items of personal protection equipment they delivered to the uk. buckingham palace says the queen and the duke of edinburgh will be spending a quiet christmas this year at windsor castle instead of spending time with other members of the royal family at sandringham. it is thought it will the first time in more than 30 years the queen hasn't travelled to norfolk for christmas. lewis hamilton will miss this weekend's formula one grand prix in bahrain after testing positive for coronavirus. his team, mercedes, said the world champion has mild symptoms but is otherwise fit and well — he's now self—isolating. 0ur sports correspondent joe wilson reports.

what can stop lewis hamilton? today, we found out — covid. he won in bahrain, having, he said, recorded three negative tests prior to sunday's grand prix. yesterday, he woke up with mild symptoms. now, he's tested positive. he says he is devastated he will miss the next race, stressing in a statement, my team and i have been taking all the precautions we possibly can, and following the regulations everywhere we've been in order to stay safe. i guess the big question, the big hope, is that he is not passed it onto anyone else in the paddock in the meantime, and that the formula 1 testing measures are doing theirjob, as they have done so far with other people giving positive tests, and we can carry on for the last two rounds normal. lewis hamilton! well, lewis hamilton is already world champion. we learned today he is among those

shortlisted for the bbc‘s sports personality of the year award. and what, meanwhile, of the miracle man? on sunday, romain grosjean pulled himself free from an accident that shocked everyone. today, he posted this photo, out of bed, exercising. his mind on his comeback. joe wilson, bbc news. china has successfully landed a spacecraft on the moon — a goal not achieved since the soviets 44 years ago. the probe is equipped with remote—sensing instruments, a scoop, and a drill, and will collect samples of rock and dust to bring back to earth. it's hoped the samples will add to understanding about the history of the solar system. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear. let's start with the good news. a beautiful day in the east with crisp, winter sunshine. a different story further north and west, cloudy, they can offer the odd spot of drizzle but it was mild with temperatures widely into double figures and i hope you made the most of it. all change as we go to the

end of the week to higher ground in scotla nd end of the week to higher ground in scotland where temperatures will struggle to climb above freezing, and yes, there will be some snow. for the next few hours, the coolest weather will be across east anglia and south—east england with temperatures close to freezing but the weather front keeps the cloud and temperatures above freezing here, but it is going to be the story that makes the change to the weather. as the front sinks south and east it allows this colder air to arrive from the arctic and the wind to strengthen as well. so any early—morning wind to strengthen as well. so any ea rly—morning brightness quickly clouds over as the front pushes into england and across south wales, and behind it, sunny spells, a scattering of sharp showers driven by the cold wind and temperatures in scotla nd by the cold wind and temperatures in scotland really struggling through wednesday afternoon, as you can see. temperatures generally down across the country. thursday unfortunately isa the country. thursday unfortunately is a real mess. we will see showers of rain, sleet and snow, primarily snow to higher ground in scotland but further south we have a weather front that will bring some rain and

some of it