Return to their classrooms before mid january. We have reaction from teachers and parents. The post brexit trade deal between the uk and eu is signed into law, and will take effect at 11 oclock tonight. And its sir Lewis Hamilton. The formula 1 champion is knighted in the new year honours list. Plus, and icy start for many a game and a bit of sleet and snow around, but what are the prospects as we go to the start of the new year . I have all the details here on breakfast. Its thursday the 31st of december. Our top story. More than three quarters of people in england are waking up to the toughest coronavirus restrictions this morning. The midlands, north east, parts of the north west and parts of the south west are among those escalated to tier four. The Prime Minister borisjohnson has described it as a critical moment and urged people to stay at home for new years eve celebrations tonight. John mcmanus reports. Hidden behind scaffolding and silent since 2017, tonight, big ben will temporarily resume normal service as it rings in 2021. Big ben chimes but theres no such reprieve for much of england where the new year will start on a sombre note with millions more people moving into the highest coronavirus tier from today. It means they must now try to stay at home with household mixing banned and nonessential shops and services closed. Its a tough ask, especially at this time of year. I must ask you to follow the rules where you live tomorrow night and see in the new year safely at home. That means not meeting up with friends or family indoors unless they are in the same household or support bubble, and avoiding large gatherings of any kind. The latest figures for the whole of the uk show more than 50,000 new infections recorded in the latest 2a hours. With 981 new deaths reported on wednesday. You can see unfortunately, it is a pretty grim and depressing picture at the moment. The situation in the uk is precarious in many parts already, particularly the south east and london. Areas under the tightest restrictions now include leicester, the north east and greater manchester. In total, just under 80 of the population in england. Shropshire, devon and cornwall are amongst those moving up into tier 3. With no region now in tier 2, only 2,000 residents in the isles of scilly remain in the first tier. Millions of people in Northern Ireland, wales and scotland are already living under the toughest restrictions. For those facing tier 4 for the first time, there is some unhappiness. It is completely ridiculous, they keep locking us in and locking us out and going back and forth. They need to be more organised in what they do and figure out whats going on. Its not ideal for us but i think that its important and people need to follow, because there are more important things like the hospitals and patients who are suffering. Well, i havent had the University Experience for one, and ijust turned 18 so i cant really do the normal things an 18 year old does. But, i mean, its fine. Rising case numbers and a feared further rise after christmas are driving the new restrictions, but it will be sometime before we know which direction the virus will take in 2021. John mcmanus, bbc news. One area which is now in tier 4 restrictions is burnley. Luxmy gopal is there for us this morning, luxmy, what impact will this have . What has been the reaction there . Burnley is amongst the places that are amongst three quarters of englands population waking up under tier 4 restrictions this morning. Burnley and the whole county of lancashire have been moved to the highest level of coronavirus restrictions and that reflects the surge in coronavirus cases across the nation, surge in coronavirus cases across the nation, for example, here in burnley, the highest infection rate in the whole of lancashire, 466 cases per 100,000 people and under tier 4from today, cases per 100,000 people and under tier 4 from today, nonessential shops must close as well as hairdressers, barbers, nailsalons, beauty salons and in addition, places that serve food or drink can only open for takeaway or delivery. You can imagine the impact that will have on an area already battered by restrictions for a while now. And in addition, in tier 4, restrictions for a while now. And in addition, in tier4, there restrictions for a while now. And in addition, in tier 4, there is a stay at home order which means people must stay at home and stay in their tier 4 area apart from for certain exceptions including work, education and childcare reasons. The government has not said how long the restrictions will be in place for but they will be reviewed in about two weeks time. Many thanks. 0nly vulnerable pupils and key worker children will return to secondary School Classrooms as planned on monday after the governments decision to delay their reopening. The temporary closure is to slow the spread of the virus and allow schools time to establish a Mass Testing Programme. But, teaching unions have criticised the plans, with one labelling it a last minute mess. 0ur reporter geeta pendse is outside a secondary school in nottingham this morning. All schools had been desperately hoping for information about how and when they might be able to return. Tell us a little more. Most pupils at colleges and secondary schools like this one in nottingham will see a decline delay to classroom teaching and for most that delay will be for two weeks. Lets take a look at the changes. 0n the 11th of january, only pupils in years 11 and 13 can return to the classroom. They are the pupils that will be sitting their exams next year. After that, a week later, that is when all other year groups will be allowed to turn to the classroom on the 18th of january so everyone will be back at secondary schools across england, hopefully. The schools are being asked to provide Remote Learning for all pupils next week and asked to provide face to face teaching for Vulnerable Children and the children of key workers. The picture is a little different for Primary Schools as most Primary Schools will reopen from monday as planned, except for areas where there are high transmission rates and that is in the south of england and those areas have been published by the government. When this was announced yesterday, as you mention, schools, pa rents yesterday, as you mention, schools, parents as well as students themselves were anticipating what themselves were anticipating what the government would say and they say it is key to breaking the transmission rate and will give schools time to implement Mass Testing Programmes, but it has been criticised by teaching unions who say that the announcement doesnt go far enough and one union said it was a last minute mess. Many bracing themselves for a turbulent start to a new term. Thank you very much. We will be speaking to Gavin Williamson at 730 this morning. Borisjohnsons trade deal with the European Union has become law. The bill has cleared parliament, after being approved by mps and peers. 0vernight it was given royal assent by the queen. The deal takes effect at 11pm when the uk will stop following eu rules. Heres our political correspondent, chris mason. This was the moment, late into the night, when the brexit trade deal became the law of the land. Her majesty has signified her royal assent to the following act European Union future relationship act 2020. The final confirmation at 11 oclock tonight after 11. 5 years of argument since the referendum, the uk will begin a new relationship with the European Union. If youre thinking, hasnt all this happened already . Didnt we leave injanuary . Well, yes, legally, brexit did happen 11 months ago. But in practical terms, it happens tonight as the uk leaves the eus Single Market and the customs union. After a ll after all the flag waving and the elections of the last few years, the debate in the last few days with the overwhelming support for the governments deal has felt Something Like a fire blanket, smothering many of the past flames of anger. Plenty of course are still hugely passionate about brexit one way or another. The snp opposed the deal among others, and this wont be the last time you ever hear the b word. But things may, just may, be a little quieter from now on. Chris mason, bbc news at westminster. The queens new year honours have been announced and in a year like no other, many of the recipients are members of the public, being recognised for their brave and selfless work during the pandemic. There are of course the usual accolades for stars from the world of sport, stage and screen, including a knighthood for the formula one World Champion, Lewis Hamilton. 0ur entertainment correspondent lizo mzimba has more. The man from stevenage becomes the most successful formula 1 driver of all time. Hes already won a record equalling seventh World Championship and the title of Sports Personality of the year. Lewis hamilton. When he gave fans a message of positivity. Please, everyone out there go out and follow your dreams, all the kids, please, never give up on yourself. And now, Lewis Hamilton has finished his incredible year with a knighthood. Sheila hancock says she feels a real sense of responsibility after being made a dame for her drama and charity work. I hope i will grow into it and i will pay back the honour that has been paid me. Thats what i want to do. Also becoming a dame, pat mcgrath, arguably the most influential make up artist in fashion. Award winning actress Leslie Manville has been made a cbe, and singer craig david an mbe. Following a Long Campaign for every surviving member of englands world cup squad to receive an honour, ron flowers and Jimmy Greaves have been made mbes. And at more than 100 years old, anne baker has been honoured for her fundraising for the nspcc. I think its so important, really, to think of the children because they are our future after all. So i really was thrilled to find this honour. Making this a particular year of celebration for anne, who at 106, is the oldest person ever to be recognised with an honour. Lizo mzimba, bbc news. The former Rugby League Star rob burrow has been awarded an mbe as part of the new year honours in recognition of his campaigning for Motor Neurone Disease. The 38 year old was diagnosed with mnd in december 2019. Hes been sharing his story throughout this year with bbc breakfast and says its truly humbling to receive the honour. Now the weather with matt. It was beyond nippy in salford this morning. That is the best way to describe it, certainly beyond this morning, big jacket, big gloves, big everything. Northern england is the coldest, 6 in North Yorkshire and icy conditions across many areas of the uk and not helped by more wintry showers and snow flurries in Northern Ireland and down the western fringes of england and wales and more significant snow pushing on towards the north of scotland, particularly over the grampians which will turn to rain through the day with lots of dry and bright weather and some lingering fog patches across parts of the east midlands and east anglia, and as we go into the afternoon, some will remain. The snow will turn to rain across the north east of scotland with colder air pushing and bit a fair few centimetres across the grampians and a covering over the Southern Uplands with showers turning to rain in Northern Ireland and a wetter end to the day but wintry flurries in wales on the south west and another cold day particularly where the lingering fog patches are. As we see the year out, continuing with showers and some wintry showers in the far north of england and well and rain showers further west and there could be an icy start to 2021 with temperatures widely below freezing but the start of the new year, as we go through the days ahead, it will stay cold and if anything a bit windy are the best of the sunshine in the west. More throughout the morning. Lets take a look at todays papers. Its always darkest before the dawn is the headline for the daily mirror. It reports the news that the uk recorded its highest daily death toll since april yesterday. The Daily Telegraph says the 0xford astrazeneca vaccine could stave off full lockdown in england. The article quotes the Prime Minister as saying that not only is there light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel itself has been shortened and we are moving faster through it. 0ne giant hope for mankind says the sun about the oxford jab, which is shown in the photo there blasting off like a rocket. And the most read story on the bbc news website this morning is the plea from Englands National medical director for people to stay at home for new years eve celebrations tonight. Those front pages highlight that it has been a year like no other. After all of our lives have been changed in some way by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. For some, this year has brought sadness, for others its tested relationships and, for a lucky few, its brought new life and hope. Brea kfasts Graham Satchell looks back on the impact of the last 12 months. 2020, a momentous year that has changed lives for ever. When the reverend peter holmes went into intensive care in march, he sent his family one last message. It read, whichever way this goes, i love you all. We didnt get to see him at all, and the only time we did get to see him was the night that he died, on facetime. This is Peters Church in south london. He dedicated his life to helping others turned his church hall into a night shelterfor the homeless, inspired his congregation to volunteer. My my dad liked to help the community. He always had time for people. He liked to build things up and he really enjoyed to see people doing their best. He really enjoyed being around people that needed help. People like sam. The reverend holmes gave sam a key to his church so he didnt have to sleep on the street. What do you think would have happened to you if you hadnt had father peters help . I would be dead by now. Peter was kind of an inspiration, because what he did was he saw the need and he just com pletely he saw the need and he just completely reconfigured his church around that need. So it was both amazing what he did and he was quite inspiring for the rest of us as he made you think, you can do this. Its quite a brave thing. Peter spent a month in intensive care before he died. He was 64. 0n the day of his funeral, the roads leading to the cemetery were lined with members of the public paying their respects. What did you think of people lining the streets . It was all a bit of a blur, to be honest. It was nice that they all made that effort to come out and say goodbye, but, yeah, i wish it was for different reasons. Do you think it has all sunk in yet . I think when the pandemic is over, it will be easier to get over it. At the moment, i still feel like we are pushing through. The romantic, rugged coastline and the isle of man and a much needed story of love in the time of covi. When talk of lockdown came it was daunting and scary and i reached out and said, kind of in a panicked way, can you move in . Im feeling quite scared and you are going to be on your own. It was quite scary, wasnt it . Scary. Scary time. That is how we ended up living together again. Ramona and xiao paolo were together for six years but then divorced almost straightaway, they were apart for ten years but then the coronavirus hit. It took something quite extreme like covid to push this into an extreme situation of living together again. Now i think we are more Strong Living together again. Now i think we are more strong and we work out the problem is that we had before, you know what i mean . Why are you laughing . It is just funny hearing you say it. But it is true. We knew during that three months, we knew we did not want to be without each other even if we werent sure how it was going to work out. Yeah. And so, ona was going to work out. Yeah. And so, on a summers day, on the beach, he proposed to ramona for the second time. I think one of the things that has come out of everything in the last few months has definitely been that feeling of living, to enjoy life and be happy. Living in the day and just, you know. Life and be happy. Living in the day andjust, you know. Kind of enjoy everything as much as we can. |j andjust, you know. Kind of enjoy everything as much as we can. I love you. I love you. Ifelt likei everything as much as we can. I love you. I love you. Ifelt like i was suffocating and i remember the nurse came overand he suffocating and i remember the nurse came over and he could see that i was quite distressed and i was gasping and a little bit panicky. At that point i actually made my peace. I started praying, lord, please forgive me for everything, please look after my wife and kids and i felt at that point, is this it . Steve landon is a fit ao year old firefighter and father of four. He ended up in hospital at the end of march. Hi, everyone, icant hi, everyone, i cant take my mask on for very long because im still on for very long because im still on the oxygen. Just out of intensive ca re on the oxygen. Just out of intensive care and struggling for breath, he sent this message to the doctors and nurses who saved his life. I have to say a massive thank you to the nhs staff who have been my family when i havent been with mine. Sorry. Steves family werent allowed to visit. His wife becky left to answer difficult questions from their children. They would ask, is daddy going to die and she would Say Something along the lines of people pull through, and with my eldest she would be to the point, i dont know if hes going to die. Pray he doesnt.