More drastic Covid restrictions could be announced as soon as this weekend, it was reported tonight.

The Telegraph reports Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called a meeting of senior ministers and is considering an emergency set of additional measures.

They may include restrictions on travel or banning people from commuting in and out of London.

It follows growing concern about a mutant strain of the virus, which originated in Kent.

The news comes just one day after it was confirmed that Kent would be remaining in Tier 3 - along with two thirds of the country.

The PM has reportedly been shown new data about the strain which is forcing him to consider immediate action.

The meeting is expected to continue late into the night with a press conference this weekend possible.

Last night it was revealed that non-essential shops could be forced to close again if the virus cannot be contained.

And speaking during a visit to Bolton, Greater Manchester today, Mr Johnson was asked whether England would follow Northern Ireland in imposing stringent restrictions after the festive period.

He said: “We’re hoping very much that we will be able to avoid anything like that. But the reality is that the rates of infection have increased very much in the last few weeks.”

The president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Dr Katherine Henderson, described a “real perfect storm” for hospitals as they try to balance increased numbers of Covid-19 patients with non-Covid work and a lack of beds.

She told the PA news agency: “It seems to me we need to do whatever it takes to get the situation firmly under control so that we can vaccinate people and then move forward.”