dover this morning, as truck drivers realise they could be stuck for days, even though france lifts its ban on border movements. and coming up in sport on bbc news... a group of former footballers and politicians call for an urgent review into the possible link between heading a football and dementia. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at 6pm. six million more people in england will now be moving into tier 4 covid restrictions from boxing day. this afternoon, the health secretary for england, matt hancock, said it was vital the government act, saying cases were continuing to rise at a "dangerous rate", with hospital admissions now at their highest level since mid—april. so tier 4 restrictions will be extended to sussex, oxfordshire, suffolk, norfolk and cambridgeshire, the rest of essex, waverley in surrey and hampshire, with the exception of the new forest. in tier 4, you have to stay at home unless you're travelling to work orfor education. you can meet one other person in an open public space. nonessential shops will close, along with personal services such as gyms, beauty salons and hairdressers. no one should enter or leave a tier 4 area. other areas are also moving up a tier from saturday. bristol, gloucestershire, somerset, including the north somerset council area, swindon, the isle of wight, the new forest and northamptonshire, as well as cheshire and warrington will be moved to tier 3. cornwall and herefordshire will move into tier 2. there were no changes to christmas restrictions for areas in tiers one to three in england. so—called "christmas bubbles" are only allowed on christmas day. the advice is to remain local. here's our political correspondent, laila nathoo. this sign will soon be turned. tighter restrictions are on their way in norfolk and elsewhere in the east and south—east of england. tracey owns a gift shop in halt and another in suffolk. within days, both have to close. we appreciate that these measures have to be put in place because it's spiralling out of control in our areas, but as usual we feel the government has left it incredibly late to make the decision. not the gift the government wanted to give, having ready scaled back plans to allow christmas mixing, but ministers say the new strain of the virus is forced their hand. we have learnt that, when it comes to be a matter of when and is not if, it's better to act sooner, and i know some of these decisions are tough and i believe that everybody will do what is needed to keep themselves and others safe, especially this christmas, and i know from the bottom of my heart that there are brighter skies ahead. you said, when it comes to coronavirus, it's better to act sooner, but the prime minister said on saturday a new strain was present across the country for your chief scientific adviser said on monday it wasn't possible to stop it from spreading beyond the south—east. haven't you wasted valuable time in trying to get ahead of the new strain of the virus? the basis of the tiered system is to take a proportionate approach to the areas where we need very firm action and other areas where we clearly need restrictions. added to that is everybody‘s personal responsibility. labour say businesses in areas already locked down are bearing a heavy burden. with all the confusion around christmas and worries about what will happen in the new year, we need to see clearer and firmer leadership from the prime minister, putting in health measures but also economic measures so that we save lives and protect people's jobs. the government insists its confident that the system of tiered restrictions in england is now strong enough to contain the new strain of the virus that is spreading quicker while the vaccine is being rolled out. almost half the country's population will soon be in the toughest tier for top ministers say they don't want another must lockdown but are keeping everything under review. we have been here before, and they had to change course. the chair of christmas is muted this year and, for millions, facing even stricter rules, boxing day will bring a further test of resolve. the latest government figures show there were 39,237 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. the average number of new cases reported per day in the last week is now 33,754. 1,943 people have been admitted to hospital on average each day. 744 deaths were reported — that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—i9 test. it means on average in the past week, 504 deaths were announced every day. it takes the total number of deaths so far across the uk to 68,307. one of the main reasons for the decision to push millions more into tier 4 in england is the rate of new infections, with fears that this is being driven by the new variant of the virus. but this afternoon, the health secrtetary revealed that two cases of yet another variant have been detected in the uk — this one was first discovered in south africa. as our health correspondent, sophie huchinson, explains, it is even more transmissible. south africa, where another new variant of coronavirus is causing alarm. scientists say initial evidence suggests it's more infectious than other versions of the virus, and doctors are reporting more young people who are seriously ill. this new variant is highly concerning because it is yet more transmissible and it appears to have mutated further than the new variant that's been discovered in the uk. the two people found in the uk with this variant are being quarantined along with close contacts. the government has brought in immediate travel restrictions with south africa and says anyone who has been there in the past two weeks must self—isolate, along with their close contacts. and all of this on top of a new variant is believed to have originated today, the government released these graphs, showing its rapid growth in other parts of england. the dock lines are the new variant, the latter aligns the pre—existing stains. and mps were told today the uk variant relief to have emerged in kent has probably spread further. the fact they have picked up ten cases of this new variant in countries like denmark, with a relatively low infection rate, that suggests that this virus has been introduced into the great majority, if not all of european countries. whenever viruses mutate into new strains, like the one that is spread fast here in london, there is spread fast here in london, there is inevitably concern about whether vaccines will still work. the developers behind the coronavirus vaccines are developers behind the coronavirus vaccines are now developers behind the coronavirus vaccines are now checking that, but scientists are confident that vaccines will be able to adapt. one of the beauties of this technology is its simplicity and in theory its adaptability. it's agility to respond. the developers of the pfizer—biontech vaccine, which is being used by the nhs, believe it will still be effective. that reassures those who were relying on it as reassures those who were relying on itasa reassures those who were relying on it as a way out of this pandemic. sophie hutchinson, abc news. —— bbc news. there is increasing speculation that a trade deal between the uk and the eu could be agreed as early as tonight. it is understood the broad shape of an agreement is there but there's still some discussion over details. in a moment, we can talk to our europe editor, katya adler, but first let's talk to our political editor, laura kuenssberg, who is in westminsterfor us. i wonder what is driving the suggestion that a deal might finally be in the offing. first off, most straightforwardly, there is hardly any time left. we left the eu at the end of january but we stayed with the status quo, the transition period, but that comes to an end to happens in the next few days on the 3ist happens in the next few days on the 31st of this month, so first and foremost there isn't very much time and it has to happen soon if it's going to happen at all. more pointedly, today, with conversations with ministers, conversations with people in and around the place, and in brussels, there is a sense that this deal is now extremely close. there are suggestions of statements from either side a bit later tonight, and really a sense that, although there have been many near misses, this deal is more likely now to be announced in the next few hours than it has been in the last few weeks. that said, this matters for sony reasons, for trade, for security, for how the eu and uk share all kind of things in future. it has been a tricky process and there have been lots of stumbling blocks, so until there is official confirmation of this going head, you never quite know the brexit process has surprised us so many times. lets join katya adler in brussels. it ta kes two join katya adler in brussels. it takes two to make a deal are you picking up a similar kind of mood music there? absolutely fit the expectation here in brussels is that tonight is the night, or at least that it should be. eu diplomats say there is so little difference now between the two sides. that said, they are continuing to negotiate this evening on the last sticking point. we have spoken so much about fish, haven't we, that eu demands that it keeps some fishing rights in uk waters after brexit, and all the complexities surrounding that. the prime minister is said to have been in very close contact with the president of the european commission, who represents all the eu countries in this discussion, and that makes absolute sense, because it's only at the top political levels at this difficult last political compromises could be made. everybody now just wait to hear whether a deal has been reached or not and don't forget, even if we get that news tonight, it's notjust the uk parliament that will want to have a look. each one of the 27 eu countries will want to read through what is going to be a pretty long document. we are very close to the end of the transition period. every single one of the 27 eu countries has the potential veto. one last thought, george, even if the two sides get this deal signed off by the end of this year, this was a lwa ys the end of this year, this was always designed to be a narrow deal, and that leaves key aspects of the eu uk relationship not yet resolved, such as the access for uk financial services to the eu single market, or even data flows between the two sides. thank you both. the first of thousands of trucks that have been stranded in a temporary lorry park in kent are now being allowed to leave, after france reopened its border with the uk. travellers will have to show proof of a recent negative test for the coronavirus. ministers have warned of severe delays before the backlog is cleared. with truck drivers desperate to get home for christmas, tempers began to boil over in dover this morning. our transport correspondent, caroline davies, reports. after three days of waiting, patience is running low. drivers clash with police at manston airfield, desperate to get tested, get out and get home. you need to go to your lorry, they will come to your lorry and test each of you. this morning, the airfield was full. tests have started. but even a negative result means lorries have to navigate this to leave the country. the port of dover's chief executive isn't sure when the backlog can be cleared. the key thing is to get the approaches to the port clear. that's got to be number one. and then to be able to produce a flow rate into the port of negative tests, that allows us to keep the port full and the ferries full. and then we can process things very, very quickly. horns blare. in dover, you can hear the frustration. small acts of kindness in the queue. thank you. free drinks handed out, and volunteers opened the beach toilets. the end of the day, it shouldn't be just down to the local community rallying round together. we live here. the government, the local councillors, our mp who we haven't heard from at all yet, they should be doing something. but people already exhausted by tier 4 restrictions are exasperated by the traffic. people can't get in or out of town, or nothing. and there's people that need shopping done, no buses, no nothing. there are loads of old people and those flats. and it's gridlock, nobody can move. it's a dangerous situation now. this is the scene across many roads in dover today, complete gridlock. some of the people have been speaking to today say they have been here for several days. others arrived this morning, hoping things would have calmed down. what many people have also asked me is where can i get a test. danielo and his friends have been parked out for two days. if we don't go home today, we cannot go back, because we don't have a house. we don't have a job. speaking today, the transport secretary said things were moving. about 6000 lorries now in the area, and we are using every single tool we can. for example, the army are joining us this evening in order to assist with the logistics. the police have done a terrific job in helping to clear the entrance to dover, to the port itself. the first test drivers are now on their way to dover. a mobile testing centre has now arrived in town. and the ferries sit tantalisingly close, holding the hopes of many to get home. caroline davies, bbc news. scotland's first minister, nicola sturgeon, has apologised in the scottish parliament for breaking coronavirus rules. she was seen not wearing a face covering briefly while indoors at a wake in edinburgh last week. police scotland have confirmed no action will be taken for what it called an "inadvertent breach" of the regulations. the first chelsea pensioners have been given the coronavirus vaccine as part of the roll—out to care homes in england. bob sullivan, a 98—year—old d—day veteran, was one of the first to receive it. around 300 chelsea pensioners living in the royal hospital chelsea have been offered the vaccination. time for a look at the weather. here's sarah keith—lucas. things will thankfully be turning drier and colder as we head through the course of christmas, but today there has been yet more heavy rain, especially across england and wales. this is the picture in northamptonshire. the number of flood warnings are creeping up and river levels are rising in places, because of this area of low pressure which brought all that rain today, falling on saturated ground stop that will slowly clear through tonight, still some heavy rain to come in the next few hours, a0 and the south—east. that area offering players and then we are all in the colder air moving in from the north. there could be wintry flurries across parts of scotland. some iciness and snow possible across the northern half of scotland, but for all of us quite a chilly start to christmas eve. it will not be a widespread white christmas because we have high pressure moving in from the atlantic, keeping things largely try over the next couple of days, and a cold northerly wind drawing in that cold air mass. no change tomorrow to christmas eve will feel quite chilly, particularly where you are exposed to this northerly wind, in showers in eastern england, and wintry flurries for north—east scotland. further west, you should avoid any showers, but much cooler, three to 8 degrees. to start christmas morning, if you like it cold and frosty, you will be pleased because temperatures across the board would be below freezing first thing for top christmas day itself, lots of dry weather with some sunshine. remaining bright across many southern and eastern areas but more cloud moving in from the north—west will bring rain for north—west will bring rain for north—west scotland on christmas day for temperatures only about four to nine. boxing day, things are looking milder and windier. there will be some rain in the north and west, perhaps some mountain snow, dressed in the south and east and milder. that's all from the bbc news at six. i will be back on bbc one at 10.35pm, and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc‘s news teams where you are. hello and welcome to sportsday. i'm chetan pathak. coming up on tonight's programme... a group of former footballers and politicians call for an urgent review into the possible link between heading a football and dementia. the latest on tonight's league cup quarterfinals. with mikel arteta's arsenal already knocked out, we ask what next for the under—pressure boss. and is it the end of extravagant olympic opening ceremonies like this, as organisers of the tokyo games announce a simpler, stripped back version for next year? welcome to the programme, thanks forjoining us. a group of former footballers and politicians have today joined forces in calling for an urgent review into the possible link between heading a ball and brain damage. a letter addressed to the culture secretary oliver dowden has been signed by nine ex—players asking the government to assess its current guidelines. former footballers are three—and—a—half—times more likely to die of dementia than the general population and five members of england's 1966 world cup—winning squad have been diagnosed with it, including nobby stiles, who died in october. former chelsea and charlton player mickey ambrose is one of those behind this letter and joins me now. mickey, thanks for joining mickey, thanks forjoining us. what is the letter say? basically we want the football association to be reviewed. the research has been done, but it's taken nearly 20 years since the passing of... so, we want government to step and because we can't rely on government bodies any more. i'm sorry, we just can't rely on them. they have had plenty of time now to look into this in more depth, and this letter... you talk about action, what would you like to see? we know children under 12 are not hitting the ball in england, scotla nd hitting the ball in england, scotland and northern ireland. what more do you want to see don? -- see don. we want to challenge the research that they've done already which is taken 20 years —— see done. that's a bit of a joke, to be frank. standards in this day and age, the amount of money in football, think of the next generation of football. football across the board. young kids are taking up football. right 110w kids are taking up football. right now as we speak, and places like that. so, we want more funding, number one. we want the research to be looked into in terms of it being recognised as an industrial disease. because it is. do you sent there is a momentum behind us. we saw players... do you see there is a move 110w players... do you see there is a move now towards change growing across all sports? i think so. i think so because, i'm sorry to say, it seems like i'm hammering the fa every five minutes. these are people in the position of trust. you can't continue to just sweep this under the carpet. the daughter ofjeff asked all has been campaigning for nearly 20 years. i think they got a letter from the fa telling the family not to pursue any legal action because of the passing of their dad. that is actually scandalous. i'm not saying it was the fa... this is 157—year—old organisation, formed in 1863, yet it's taken 23 to get to the stage. we just want action. we want to see more funding from the fa and pfa. gordon taylor owed £20 million during his tenure —— earned £20 million. i'm sorry, it's absolutely ridiculous why we keep coming on programmes, batting against organisations in a position and trust. they are the ones that should be looking after the youngsters. it's just scandalous. be looking after the youngsters. it'sjust scandalous. you're not the only former player making this argument. we wish you all the best with the campaign and mickey ambrose there, just to say the football association has given us the following statement regarding the letter... and the pfa have also told us: it's over 25 years since everton last won a major trophy. tonight, they take on manchester united in the quarterfinals of the league cup with 2000 fans allowed at goodison park. ole gunnar solskjaer, meanwhile, says his side are desperate to get their hands on a trophy too, which would be his first since taking over two years ago. we wa nt we want to improve every season and to improve from last year is to get to improve from last year is to get to the final. and, of course, when you get to the final, there's only one thing that matters, that's to lift the trophy. so, i remember myself winning my first trophy, even towards the end of my career. i think it was ever our‘s post trophy —— first trophy, 2006, was it? i think that was their first trophy. it does give something to a team, so we are desperate to get our hands on a trophy. these players are desperate to learn how to win. it's an important game. it's a quarterfinal. it's an important competition. it was history, so we are not so far. we are in a good moment. we are going to play against a really tough opponent that beat us a really tough opponent that beat us a few weeks ago here. so, it is a great opportunity tomorrow to show the momentum. that match kicks off at eight. tonight's other efl cup quarter final is already under way at stoke, its over 12 years since tottenham won anything — something jose mourinho is keen to change. they lost their last two in the league to liverpool and leicester but at half time, they're1—0 up at stoke, gareth bale with the goal. the holders manchester city are already into the semifinals. they were ruthless last night with a a—1win at arsenal. mikel arteta left his role as pep guardiola's assistant at city a year ago to take over at the emirates. he won the fa cup injuly, but this season, things feel very different. arsenal haven't won in seven in the league. they're four points above the relegation zone, making it their worst start in a6 years. so, should they sack arteta? i've been getting the thoughts of arsenal fan tv presenter pippa monique. a lot of people would say yes, but i don't feel like that's the best option right now because someone else would come in and as a new project, there is a new plan. it just too much to deal with. a lot of changes need to happen. new players are coming and going, and ifeel like giving thejob are coming and going, and ifeel like giving the job to someone else, an event —— even if there is someone better, is not the right time. but i have to give him time, he hasn't gotten that long. i feel like there's something broken down in communication or something that's gone wrong that we don't know about behind closed doors. it gets a sense that some of the players just aren't planning for arteta. do you get a sense that some of the players want him to go? i don't know if they want to go, but i feel like they've been in some kind of disconnection. i can feel that from watching in words. i feel that from watching in words. i feel like... i know that name comes up feel like... i know that name comes upa feel like... i know that name comes up a lot. but i feel like where him being such a big player in the squad as you know and one of the highest early ‘s, for him to be frozen out, i feel like certain players are looking at that and thinking that could happen to them. they see him asa could happen to them. they see him as a friend as well as a team—mate, andi as a friend as well as a team—mate, and i feel like i as a friend as well as a team—mate, and ifeel like i could be one reason where there's that disrupt in the arsenalfamily. reason where there's that disrupt in the arsenal family. what does arteta need to do? going to that boxing day game? just be ruthless. i don't know what else he needs to do. i question the start at 11. there are players... who's been an arsenal players... who's been an arsenal player for about two years. we haven't really seen him play. so, why not give him a chance. i don't wa nt to why not give him a chance. i don't want to bring up as it is, but there's other players that could come in that he should be playing. he might as well play the others at this point because there are the only ones who are bringing us part to the team. arteta isn't the only boss under pressure. newcastle joined arsenal in being knocked out of the league cup last night. a magical story for brentford who are into their first major semi final in their 131—year history. for newcastle it was another poor display with a lack of attacking intent as they lost by a goal to nil, putting more pressure on steve bruce. i've been speaking to alex hurst from newcastle

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