or create case levels remain _ with darwen or create case levels remain higherthan in with darwen ormain higher than in other state areas were — remain higher than in other state areas were willing to take a further review _ areas were willing to take a further review of— areas were willing to take a further review of those restrictions of this week _ review of those restrictions of this week. ~ ,., review of those restrictions of this week. ~ , .., , week. with the band lifted because of case numbers _ week. with the band lifted because of case numbers and _ week. with the band lifted because of case numbers and we _ week. with the band lifted because of case numbers and we heard - week. with the band lifted because of case numbers and we heard a i of case numbers and we heard a statement from andy burnham and he said he had serious concerns about this travel ban when it was introduced and he said he was grateful to nicola sturgeon and the scottish government for listening and for the decision that they announced today. this is a part of their briefing but the main focus of their br

nonessential travel is already prohibited, between scotland and bolton and blackburn with darwen.ould ask to think carefully about whether your journey is really necessary because we do see cases rising across that region. i realise that for those with family or friends in manchester or salford, for anyone else who was simply planning a visit, this is disappointing, but rates of covid—19 in these cities are particularly high at the moment and these restrictions are intended to minimise the risk of either exacerbating the situation there, or indeed allowing more virus to come back here to scotland. the third point i want to highlight is the main talking point for most people, over the course of today, i would imagine, which is the football, later this evening, and the scotland—england game at wembley tonight will be a great occasion, at least, we hope it will be a great occasion, and let me just briefly take this opportunity to wish steve clark, andy robertson, and the whole of the scotland team the very, very best of luck for that match tonight. the whole country will be cheering

and to the north of the city, the area of blackburn and darwen is joined by most of lancashire, includingd rossendale. our health corresopndent dominic hughes reports from manchester. is it back to the bad old days for the north—west of england? a spike in covid cases linked to the delta variant, first detected in india, across greater manchester and much of lancashire has prompted what ministers are calling a strengthened package of support — advice to travel less, test more and keep get togethers outdoors. i want to encourage everyone in manchester and lancashire to get the tests on offer. we know that this approach can work, we've seen it work in south london and in bolton, in stopping a rise in the number of cases. this is a part of the country that since the pandemic began, pretty much, has barely been out of restrictions, so many people here in manchester and across north—west england may well view these new measures with an air of weary resignation. but ministers will point to what's happened in bolton, where a surge in cases linked to the indian variant has been successfully tackl

and to the north of the city blackburn and darwen isjoined by most of lancashire including burnley, prestonale. our health corresopndent dominic hughes is in manchester. well, george, here in greater manchester this evening it does feel all a little bit grimly familiar. greater manchester, along with big parts of lancashire are facing extra restrictions, the rest of the country simply does not. a big surge in cases of coronavirus across the north west. yet this time it is different. we have vaccines that work. these new measures are advised, they are not law, but it does feel a little bit like we have been here before. is it back to the bad old days for the north—west of england? a spike in covid cases linked to the delta variant first detected in india across greater manchester and much of lancashire has prompted what ministers are calling a "strengthened package of support", advice to travel less, test more and keep get—togethers outdoors. i want to encourage everyone in manchester and lancashire to get the test on offer. we know that this approach can work. we've seen it work in south lo

are being lifted but restrictions will remain in place for now between scotland and blackburn with darwenthose restrictions over the course of this week. ~ , .. , week. with the band lifted because of case numbers _ week. with the band lifted because of case numbers we _ week. with the band lifted because of case numbers we heard - week. with the band lifted because of case numbers we heard a - week. with the band lifted because - of case numbers we heard a statement from andy burnham. he says he had serious concerns about the travel ban when it was introduced and he said he was grateful to the government for listening and the decision to announce today. this is part of dalian nicola sturgeon's briefing with concern about the rapid rise and the number of covid—19 cases in scotland, especially in the last week or so and this is been due to the delta variant. now, again for the delta variant. now, again for the second day in a row and only the second time in a pandemic, scotland has had more than 3000 new cases today. although there were slightly fewer cases today than there were yesterday

and to the north of the city — blackburn and darwen — is joined by most of lancashire — including burnleyssendale. more now from manchester and our health corresopndent dominic hughes. here in greater manchester this evening it does feel all a little bit grimly familiar. greater manchester, along with big parts of lancashire facing extra restrictions, the rest of the country simply does not. a big surge in coronavirus cases across the northwest. and yet this time is different. we have vaccines that work, this with these new measures are advice, they are not law but it does feel a little bit like we have been here before. is it back to the bad old days for the northwest of england? a spike in covid cases linked to the delta variant first detected in india across greater manchester and much of lancashire has prompted what ministers are calling a strengthened package of support. advice to travel less, test more and keep get—togethers outdoors. i want to encourage everyone in manchester and lancashire to get the tests on offer. we know that this approach can work, we have seen it work in sout

however, restrictions will remain in place for now between scotland and blackburn with darwen, wheremercia police officer has been jailed for eight years for killing a former aston villa footballer, dalian atkinson. benjamin monk was convicted last week of the manslaughter of mr atkinson but was cleared of murder. the church at birmingham crown court told him he would have a difficult time in prison but he had used reasonable force. the headlines on bbc news... the build up to this evening's big match at wembley intensifies, with less than two hours to go now before england goes head to head against germany in the last 16 of the euros. school isolation rules in england could end in the autumn, amid concerns over the soaring number of children missing lessons. former police officer benjamin monk is jailed for eight years for the manslaughter of ex—footballer dalian atkinson. this thursday, voters in batley and spen in west yorkshire in the north of england, will head to the polls to elect a new mp from among 16 candidates. the by—election was triggered after the previous mp, labour's

and also to the north of the city, blackburn and darwen, as well as most of lancashire, including burnleyd rossendale. in response, a big campaign of surge testing and vaccinating now under way to try to bring the situation under control, including here in kirklees, in west yorkshire. we've had a hugely positive response. we have done over 2000 tests through the door knocking within our key priority areas. we have also undertaken around 5000 tests in some key schools where we have seen an increase in cases. that has generated around 175 positive cases and those positive cases we would not have normally found, because they are asymptomatic, and clearly gives us an opportunity to try to kill that chain of transmission. and it does seem the tactics used in bolton over the past month, with the area flooded with testing and people being encouraged to get vaccinated, are working. the infection rates have dropped by a quarter in the past ten days. richard galpin, bbc news. the labour mayor of greater manchester andy burnham says the key thing he'd like to see is an increase in vaccine supply in

and also to the north of the city, blackburn and darwen, as well as most of lancashire, including burnleyd rossendale. in response, a big campaign of surge testing and vaccinating now under way to try to bring the situation under control, including here in kirklees, in west yorkshire. we've had a hugely positive response. we have done over 2000 tests through the door knocking within our key priority areas. we have also undertaken around 5000 tests in some key schools where we have seen an increase in cases. that has generated around 175 positive cases and those positive cases we would not have normally found, because they are asymptomatic, and clearly gives us an opportunity to try to kill that chain of transmission. and it does seem the tactics used in bolton over the past month, with the area flooded with testing and people being encouraged to get vaccinated, are working. the infection rates have dropped by a quarter in the past ten days. richard galpin, bbc news. we'll be speaking to the mayor of greater manchester, andy burnham, at around ten past seven. world leaders will shortly be

nonessential travel is already prohibited between scotland and bolton and blackburn with darwen.d imagine, which is the football later this evening. scotland—england game at wembley tonight will be a great occasion, we hope it will be a great occasion, and let me just briefly take this opportunity to wish steve clarke, andy robertson and the whole of the scotland team very, very best of luck for that match tonight. the whole country will be cheering you on. it is only natural that many of us want to watch this game with friends, you know, that sense of being in a shared experience is one of the many things that make watching and national team so special. please, and i don't relish being the one that has to keep saying this, but i have a duty to keep saying this, please remember if you are watching the match tonight to continue to take care, in particular if you are gathering inside your own house or somebody else's house. please stick to the limit. that, at the moment, is six people from three households. the point of these limits is to try to restrict spread of the virus, becaus

in lancashire, blackburn with darwen has the highest rate in england for all coronavirus cases.ople 16 plus who are affected by this variant than anybody else. and i think i look at the figures in hospital, there were 26 people yesterday in hospital from all of east lancashire, and i think they are only 1% 65. cases are still relatively localised but the government will be watching closely to see if it spreads to other parts of the country as it considers ending restrictions in england later this month. at the moment it's looking good forjune 21st but we are going to continue to make that assessment in the coming days and up to the 14th ofjune, when a decision will be made. new data suggests that people who have had the pfizer biontech vaccine have lower antibody levels targeting the indian variant than those against previous variants in the uk. research from the francis crick institute and the national institute for health research say this provides additional evidence in support of plans to deliver a vaccination boost to vulnerable people in the autumn. in the meantime, govern