Pictures show what Brighton looked like on day one of lockdown

This marks a stark contrast to the bustling shopping streets from the day before, and the revelry which saw hundreds flood city centre streets late last night.

Brighton Clock Tower, where armed police had been stationed just 12 hours earlier, was deserted shortly after noon.

A quiet Brighton Clock Tower on the first day of the second UK lockdown Credit: Simon Dack

A handful of people could be seen in city centre areas which are usually busy at this time of day, such as Bond Street, North Street and West Street, with closed shutters replacing many usually bright shopfronts.

The second national lockdown, announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday, came into force at midnight.

The new rules urge people to stay at home wherever possible, only leaving the house for education, exercise, medical reasons, food shopping, caring for others or work - if their job cannot be done from home.

No mixing of households is allowed in indoor spaces or private gardens, unless it is with a person within that household's support bubble.

A taxi rank in Brighton as lockdown measures begin Credit: Simon Dack

Non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues must all close, with pubs and restaurants also ordered to shut unless they are offering takeaway, delivery or click and collect services.

These measures will remain in place until December 2 in an attempt to curb the rising number of coronavirus infections across the UK.

And, on day one of the heightened restrictions, Brighton appears to be sticking to the rules rigidly.

The same could not be said, however, for the night before lockdown.

After pubs and bars closed for the final time in four weeks, hundreds of people poured on to the pavements outside the venues and continued to party in the streets.

Read more:

• Hundreds of pub-goers pour into city centre streets after sites close
• Pictures who what it was like in Brighton on the night before lockdown
• 'It's the busiest I've seen it in ages' - queueing outside city stores ahead of enforced closure

While some revellers were responsible, others formed large crowds with limited social distancing on show.

West Street and North Street were packed with people from 9.50pm to 10.20pm.

After this, patrolling police officers began to move people on and party-goers slowly slowly started to dissipate and make their way home.

The area had almost emptied by 10.40pm.