SHROPSHIRE residents are set to discover whether the area will be moved into a higher tier, as health secretary Matt Hancock warns of tougher restrictions.

Millions more people in England will be placed under the toughest tier four coronavirus restrictions, as case numbers continue to rise.

Shropshire will potentially be placed in Tier 3, though it is hoped that it will remain in Tier 2.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock will set out the details of which areas will change in a Commons statement later on Wednesday.

Infection rates in lower tier areas of England have risen rapidly in the last seven days, government data shows.

Tier four rules include a 'stay at home' order, and mean businesses such as hairdressers and gyms must close.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Hancock said: "It is clear as we have seen from the data in the last few days that the number of infections is going up.

"That's unfortunately not just happening in the London and the South East as it was in the last few weeks but it's starting to happen elsewhere in the country.

Mr Hancock said the new variant has made suppressing the virus 'much harder' he said, adding the government did not take the tiering decisions lightly.

He added: "we introduced the tier system for a reason, because not everywhere needs the same level of restrictions."