Families can have barbecues in gardens and groups of up to six can meet outdoors from Monday as lockdown eases further

Speaking at the daily briefing, Boris Johnson said that people will now be able to meet up with friends and family members outside of their household in gardens and other outdoor spaces, as long as they stay two metres apart.

It comes as the Prime Minister announced further easing of lockdown measures, which will see schools and non-essential shops reopen from mid-June.

The Prime Minister confirmed that all five tests required for the next phase to begin have been met, meaning pupils in reception, year one and year six in primary school can return to school from Monday in England.

Outdoor retail and car showrooms can open from Monday in England.

Mr Johnson set out that people would be able to see “both parents at once, or both grandparents at once” in what he said would be a “long-awaited and joyful moment” for many.

Mr Johnson told the daily press conference that people should “try to avoid seeing too many households in quick succession so we can avoid the risk of quick transmission from lots of different families and continue to control the virus”.

“It remains the case that people should not be inside the homes of their friends and families, unless it is to access the garden.

“I should add that, at this stage, I am afraid that those who have been asked to shield themselves should continue to do so.”

Mr Johnson also said that it would be possible to have barbecues with members of your family.

He said: “It’s very, very important that people understand the really limited nature of what we’re saying.

“We do want people to be able to see their friends and family, we do want people to see two grandparents at once but it’s got to be socially distanced, there’s got to be a maximum of six people.”

He added: “We don’t want people to stay overnight, we don’t want people to go to other households and stay there, I’m just afraid we’re not at that stage.

“What you certainly can imagine is there could be meetings of families in a garden, you could even have a barbecue provided you did it in a socially-distanced way, provided everyone washes their hands, provided everybody exercises common sense.”

Mr Johnson stressed that people should not be inside the homes of friends and families unless it is to access the garden.

The PM set out the details just hours after Durham Constabulary said they would have taken action if police officers had stopped Mr Cummings on his 50-mile round trip to Barnard Castle.

Downing Street said Mr Johnson regarded the issue as “closed” after the police said they did not intend to take “retrospective action”, though the force found that the aide may have committed “a minor breach” of lockdown rules in driving to the town.

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