More areas could face Tier 4 measures as mass testing aims to ease port chaos

Borders are set to reopen between France and the UK (Steve Parsons/PA)

More areas of England could be put into Tier 4 from December 26 while a mass testing programme was due to get under way to alleviate congestion at the border between France and the UK.

Reports suggested ministers would meet on Wednesday to decide whether more parts of the country would be put under the toughest restrictions amid fears over the spread of a new mutant strain of coronavirus.