Britain's talks with France to ease freight curbs ongoing as mutant Covid strain spreads

Lorries queue to enter the Eurotunnel site in Folkestone, Kent, due to heavy freight traffic (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Talks with France on reopening full trade and transport across the Channel are ongoing as the UK government’s chief scientific adviser said more restrictions may be needed at home because cases of a mutant strain of Covid were now appearing “everywhere”.

Patrick Vallance gave the grim warning after more than 40 countries banned UK flights because of fears regarding the spread of the coronavirus variant.