A POLL of Argus readers found that a small majority would NOT follow new Covid-19 restrictions.

Readers were split on whether they would abide by measures introduced to be curb the spread of the Omicron variant.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced last night that no new restrictions will be brought in for England before Christmas.

However, he warned that ministers "can't rule out" any further measures after December 25.

He said the government would continue to closely monitor the data and would "not hesitate to act" if needed.

It comes after the release of an image of Mr Johnson, his wife and 17 staff members in the Downing Street garden with bottles of wine and a cheeseboard.

Argus readers were torn as to whether they would follow any additional rules.

A poll found that 51 per cent of readers would not abide by new restrictions.

The remaining 49 per cent of the 968 voters said they would follow the new rules to help stop the spread of the virus.

The Argus: Argus poll Argus poll

The leaked image is believed to have been taken in May last year, at a time when there were strict restrictions of mixing households and gatherings.

Mr Johnson said the image shows "people at work".

On Tuesday, Scotland announced new Covid measures which are due to start from Boxing Day.

Large events will have limits on the number of people that can attend, and Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations have been cancelled.

Wales has already announced plans for sporting events to be held without crowds from Boxing Day, while in Northern Ireland, there is a limit of 30 on people mixing from different households in homes.

The Queen has abandoned her Christmas at Sandringham and has instead decided to spend Christmas in Windsor in what a royal source said was a precautionary approach.

London mayor Sadiq Khan said the cancellation of the capital’s New Year’s Eve celebration in Trafalgar Square is “in the interests of public safety”.

Government sources reported by The Times said their focus would be on restrictions after Christmas, with a two-week “circuit breaker” banning household mixing being considered for December 28.

An investigation is currently taking place into a number of alleged parties in government buildings - including Downing Street - in November and December last year.