London could be plunged into Tier 3 Covid rules next week as cases rise

there is 'concern across the system' about the level of footfall on London's streets as hordes of shoppers hit Oxford Street.

Public Health England data shows that 20 of London's boroughs have infection rates higher than the England average, and 21 boroughs have rates that rose in the seven days up to December 2.

'CATASTROPHIC'

There are fears the city would have to be put back into a lockdown to help get on top of spiralling rates.

Professor Paul Hunter at the University of East Anglia said it was "very worrying" that cases had increased after November's national lockdown.

He told The Telegraph: "There were more cases at the end of lockdown than at the start in London.

“It is very worrying when cases were still continuing to increase in these regions despite the national lockdown. It is quite likely that case numbers will start to accelerate even more in coming days probably including in areas not yet showing an increase because of more movement around London.

“If cases in London were rising even during a national lockdown then we do need to reconsider the Tier allocation in these areas. Whether across the region or at the Local Authority level is open to debate.”

Last Saturday was dubbed 'Stupor Saturday' as millions took to the high streets across the UK and splashed out £4billion - helping to boost the flailing economy.

But it was nearly impossible to socially distance as the high street filled with people clutching shopping bags.

On Sunday luxury store Harrods in London was "overrun" with 300 young people without facemasks believed to be members of the traveller community.

Worried on-lookers described chaotic scenes that triggered fears of a terrorist attack as those gathered outside the luxury store tried to force their way in.

Photos show the large crowd - which gathered around 11.30am - crammed into a pedestrian street outside Harrods

Most of the people involved were not wearing masks or respecting social distancing rules, according to witnesses.

Speaking to Sky News today, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: 'If London were to go into Tier Three it would be catastrophic to those industries already really crippling under the Covid pandemic. 

'That could mean many shops going bust, many bars, pubs and restaurants going bust.

'We're keen to make sure we stay in Tier Two. Tier Two, as well, has got many challenges for us but it's really important that London has continued to make the huge sacrifices they've done. 

'Nobody wants London to go into Tier Three or even the country to go into a further, third, national lockdown.'