BORIS Johnson has announced the effective end of lockdown in a statement in the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister said the common sense of the British people has “more than justified our faith in them”.

It means pubs, restaurants and hairdressers will all be able to reopen in England from July 4.

Cinemas, museums and other attractions will also reopen, but “close proximity” sites like indoor gyms, spas and swimming pools with changing rooms will not.

Self-contained sites like hotels, bed and breakfasts, and campsites can now reopen.

Weddings of up to 30 guests at places of worship will be allowed.

The strict warning for everyone to keep two metres apart has been scrapped in favour of a one-metre plus rule.

It means people should still keep two metres apart where possible, but where it is not possible, they should take steps to stop the spread of the disease such as wearing masks and washing hands.

Meanwhile two households of any size should be able to meet in any setting, allowing children to see grandparents, and others to see friends and loved ones.

The Prime Minister said: “I can tell the House that we will also reopen restaurants and pubs. All hospitality indoors will be limited to table service and our guidance will encourage minimal staff and customer contact.

“Close proximity venues such as nightclubs, soft play areas, indoor gyms, swimming pools and spas will, I’m afraid, need to remain closed for now, as will bowling alleys and water parks.

“I must be clear to the House that, as we’ve seen in other countries, there will be flare ups for which local measures will be needed and we will not hesitate to apply the brakes and reintroduce restrictions, even at national level, if required.

“So I urge everyone to stay alert, control the virus and save lives.”

The number of coronavirus cases has dropped by 70 per cent from 69,000 in the first half of May to 22,000 now.

There will be advice given to businesses about how to keep staff and customers safe.

The Prime Minister said: “These include, for instance, avoiding face-to-face seating by changing office layouts, reducing the number of people in enclosed spaces, improving ventilation, using protective screens and face coverings, closing non-essential social spaces, providing hand sanitiser, changing shift patterns so that staff work in set teams.”

Businesses are now gearing up for reopening on July 4.

Mr Johnson added: “Our principle is to trust the British public to use their common sense in the full knowledge of the risks, remembering that the more we open up, the more vigilant we will need to be.

“Today we can say that our long national hibernation is beginning to come to an end and life is returning to our streets and to our shops, the bustle is starting to come back and a new but cautious optimism is palpable.”