NORTH Shropshire residents will be allowed to travel across the border into Wales later this month, provided that England sticks to its roadmap out of lockdown.

Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford told BBC Breakfast that he hopes to be able to lift travel restrictions in the country on April 12, if England does the same – meaning people could cross the border.

Welsh residents are currently allowed to travel anywhere inside Wales, but lockdown rules in England are still instructing people to remain local and not stay anywhere overnight.

However, those rules are expected to change in England on April 12.

If they do, Mr Drakeford confirmed travel across the border will be permitted.

He said: “At the moment, people in Wales can travel anywhere inside Wales but the instruction in England remains to remain local and people are not able to stay anywhere overnight.

“The English road map says that that will change on April 12, and if it does change then we will change our arrangements so that people will be able to travel more freely in and out of Wales.”

Mr Drakeford said that from April 26, outdoor hospitality, such as cafes, restaurants and pubs, will be able to reopen in Wales.

“The rule of six will be the rule here in Wales – six people from two households will be able to go out together and enjoy a drink in a beer garden,” he said.

“Of course, it is not the same two households every time so people who have friends are able to meet with them as well, but not all at once.

“The advice of our chief medical officer is very clear, that if we allowed six different people to meet together then the chains of transmission that that could set off could have a very real risk of coronavirus spreading again.”