Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the move to Plan B Covid restrictions does not mean schools and churches should cancel nativity plays.

During a press conference on Wednesday evening, Boris Johnson confirmed all nativity plays and Christmas parties can go ahead but urged everyone to exercise “due caution”.

He said: “We don’t want kids to be taken out of school before the end of term, we don’t want nativity plays to be cancelled.

“We think that is ok to keep going with Christmas parties, but everybody should exercise due caution, have ventilation, wash your hands, get a test before you go - give everybody else confidence they are going to be meeting somebody who is not contagious.”

 Last month, the National Association of Head Teachers confirmed many schools were moving their nativity plays online due to Covid concerns.

At the time, schools minister Robert Walker said: “Of course where they can go ahead safely, things like nativity plays and end-of-term shows are really important and a good way of doing that. I would want to see as many going forward as possible."

"I think it's good where those important traditions can be maintained that they are."