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BOOZED-UP Brits hit the town and made the most of late-night drinks last night after the 10pm pub curfew was announced.

Revellers in Leeds appeared to forget about the Prime Minister's plea to stick to social distancing as they queued up to get into bars and clubs.

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Students hit the town in Leeds last night - before pubs and bars get ready to shut at 10pm
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Students hit the town in Leeds last night - before pubs and bars get ready to shut at 10pmCredit: NB PRESS LTD
The new restrictions will come into force on Thursday
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The new restrictions will come into force on ThursdayCredit: NB PRESS LTD
Groups of people headed out dressed up to make the most of the later finish
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Groups of people headed out dressed up to make the most of the later finishCredit: NB PRESS LTD
The revellers in Leeds were pictured having fun on a night out
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The revellers in Leeds were pictured having fun on a night outCredit: NB PRESS LTD
Mostly students, the party-goers looked to be having a whale of a time
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Mostly students, the party-goers looked to be having a whale of a timeCredit: NB PRESS LTD

Students who have newly arrived in the city were dressed up and making the most of the night out - before more severe restrictions come in tomorrow.

It comes after the PM warned "your cough could be someone else's death knell" as he asked the country to pull together to defeat the virus in an address to the nation last night.

The PM's new measures mean all restaurants and pubs will have to close at 10pm, face masks will have to be worn in more places, with heftier fines, and office workers have been told to get back to working from home.

But University College London Professor Robert West, a member of Sage, said: "Closing early will have some impact but I don't think it will be anything like enough, even with the other measures announced, to stop the increase.

According to Professor West, evidence from previous changes to licensing hours causes a "drinking equilibrium".

The PM urged Brits to show "discipline, resolve, and the spirit of togetherness" to get Britain through the "difficult" winter months to come - or face a new national lockdown.

In a live TV address - only the third time he has spoken to the nation in a recorded broadcast during the pandemic - he reassured the public that there "are great days ahead" once the fight against covid is over.

However, for the first time he entertained the possibility of a "tougher" new national lockdown and what it would mean for the country, just weeks after he lifted restrictions.

Gaggles of people hit the town's bars and pubs last night
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Gaggles of people hit the town's bars and pubs last nightCredit: NB PRESS LTD
People dressed up as they went out on Tuesday night - after the PM told the nation to pull together to beat the bug
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People dressed up as they went out on Tuesday night - after the PM told the nation to pull together to beat the bugCredit: NB PRESS LTD
Two happy looking punters sit outside a pub in Leeds last night
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Two happy looking punters sit outside a pub in Leeds last nightCredit: NB PRESS LTD
A pair in masks wander by the revellers in the city
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A pair in masks wander by the revellers in the cityCredit: NB PRESS LTD

Mr Johnson warned the nation that he would have no choice but to impose “significantly greater restrictions” later this year if the new measures fail to bring the ‘R’ value of the virus below 1.

It comes just over two months after restaurants and pubs started to reopen from July 4 for dine-in customers.

Mr Johnson said: "I am sorry this will affect businesses who have just got back up on their feet.

"But we must act to stop the virus being transmitted in restaurants and bars."

Despite just last week declaring his aim to save the family Christmas, the PM warned the clampdown will last at least six months.

It came just hours before Scots leader Nicola Sturgeon announced a complete ban on household mixing north of the border - saying Mr Johnson's rules didn't go far enough.

Yesterday saw another 37 people reported to have died from the virus as cases rise to the highest level since May 7, which saw 5,614 new infections.

It is the highest number of deaths since July 14, when 44 were logged.

Read more on the Scottish Sun

A group walking together laugh as they enjoy a night out before the more severe restrictions
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A group walking together laugh as they enjoy a night out before the more severe restrictionsCredit: NB PRESS LTD
People hit the town in Leeds last night despite the rising case numbers
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People hit the town in Leeds last night despite the rising case numbersCredit: NB PRESS LTD
Students went out in Leeds in huge numbers last night
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Students went out in Leeds in huge numbers last nightCredit: NB PRESS LTD
Students crowd bars and clubs in freshers week mayhem before 10pm curfew is announced
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