Coronavirus news: Packed scenes spark concern as pubs reopen across England and holiday makers flock to coast

Iranians without masks to be denied state services and sent home from work

Iranians who do not wear masks will be denied state services and workplaces that fail to comply with health protocols will be shut for a week, president Hassan Rouhani has announced.

Iran has been battling the spread of the coronavirus, with the total number of cases hitting 237,878 today and a further 148 deaths bringing the country's toll to 11,408.

Wearing masks became mandatory in covered public places from today after tougher restrictions were imposed in cities and towns in five provinces where the outbreak is rising after an easing of lockdowns from mid-April.

"Government employees should not serve people who do not wear masks and employees who do not wear them should be considered absentees and sent home," said Rouhani.

A government website has published photos of Rouhani, who is rarely seen wearing a mask, with a face covering.

Reuters

Key worker couple tie the knot in midnight ceremony

(Halton Borough Council/PA)Two key workers got married just moments after the restrictions lifted today.

Care home worker Jennifer Wilson and security guard Louise Arnold, both 22, married at the Peace Garden Pergola in the grounds of Runcorn Town Hall, Cheshire, in what was thought to be the first wedding after the updated Covid-19 guidelines came into force.

Ms Wilson said: "Last week the registry office rang and asked if we wanted to be the first couple in the UK to marry after lockdown, and we just said yes.

"We both work nights normally, so the time suited us."

Ms Arnold, who works for lorry firm Eddie Stobart, added: "With it having just been Pride month, this felt like something we couldn't really pass up.

"Not just for us but for other LGBT people who haven't been able to get together to celebrate Pride."

72-year-old returns to locked down world after rowing Atlantic

My colleague Zoe Tidman has spoken to retired carpenter Graham Walters about arriving in Antigua to a locked down world after four months alone at sea – and his quest to return to his Leicestershire home.

Drinkers enjoy first post-lockdown pints

Drinkers are enjoying their first post-lockdown pints as pubs reopened across England this morning.

Mossy Well, Muswell Hill, north London

(Images by Peter Dench/Getty)

Shakespeare's Head, Holborn, London

(Images by Yui Mok/PA)

The Rocket pub, Rainhill, Merseyside

(Images by Peter Byrne/PA)

The Holland Tringham, Streatham, south London

(Images by Hannah McKay/Reuters)

Spain sends region back into lockdown after fresh outbreak

Spain's north-eastern region of Catalonia has enforced a new lockdown on more than 200,000 people today, after several new outbreaks of the coronavirus were detected.

Residents in Segria, which includes the city of Lleida, will not be able to leave the area from 12 noon (10.00 GMT) on Saturday, but will not be confined to their homes as was the case in Spain's original strict lockdown in March.

"We have decided to confine Segria due to data that confirm too significant a growth in the number of COVID-19 infections," Catalan regional president Quim Torra told a news briefing.

Regional health ministry data showed there were 3,706 cases in the Lleida region on Friday, up from 3,551 the previous day.

Movement for work will be permitted, but from Tuesday workers entering or leaving the area will have to present a certificate from their employer.

Spain has registered 205,545 coronavirus cases and 28,385 deaths, making it one of the worst affected countries in Europe.

Rail services to be ramped up as lockdown eases

Rail services across Britain will be ramped up from Sunday as demand for public transport is expected to grow due to lockdown restrictions easing, PA reports.

Industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said services will increase from around 70% of pre-lockdown levels to 85%.

Avanti West Coast will increase its timetable from six to eight trains per hour to and from London Euston from Monday.

This will return the Manchester and Birmingham routes to their usual frequencies of three trains per hour. There will also be more services between Holyhead and Crewe.

Additional trains will be operated by Southern during peak times from Monday.

Routes which will see services boosted include Sutton-London Victoria via Selhurst, London Victoria-Epsom, London Bridge-Crystal Palace via Sydenham, and Clapham Junction-Milton Keynes.

Longer trains will be deployed on the London Bridge-Eastbourne via Lewes and London Bridge-Chichester via Horsham routes.

However, people are still being urged to avoid non-essential use of public transport.

'It feels good to be out'

(Ben Mitchell/PA)Civil servant Dan Davis, 47, queued for his first haircut in four years in Southsea, Hampshire, this morning.

He told PA: "My hair hasn't been touched by scissors for four years but it's been enough is enough during lockdown, so I've come on the first day to get it cut.

"This is the furthest I've been from home because I'm living with someone who is shielding, it feels good to be out."

'I've missed this more than my missus when she left'

Drinkers have enjoyed their first post-lockdown pints as pubs reopened in Chester but remained shuttered just a few miles away over the border in Wales.

The first pints were pulled at 11am in the centre of the city, as a handful of regulars trickled into The Shropshire Arms.

"Heaven," said Bert Lockley, a regular, sipping his first pint of draught Guinness for three months.

"I've missed this more than my missus when she left," he told PA news agency.

"You can drink at home but you can't get this feeling anywhere else."

The Shropshire Arms, a "drinkers pub" which does not do food and instead is a sports and live entertainment venue, has space for 72 socially distanced drinkers - and is fully booked on Saturday from 11am to 11pm.

Another drinker, Frank Green, sipping a pint of lager, said: "I was up early. It's been 12 weeks since I've been able to come here.

"It's not the drink, it's the banter with everyone else.

"I felt a bit anxious coming in for the first time today. I think it will be fine, the landlord is very good, he doesn't stand for any nonsense."

Film-goers return to cinemas

Cinema-goers at the Showcase Cinema in Bluewater, Kent, sit down, socially distanced, to watch their first film since March as it reopens following the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions across England.

(Images by Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Theme parks welcome back visitors

Today's showers haven't put thrill-seekers off queuing up for rides at amusement parks including Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Alton Towers as they reopened today.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Phil Noble/Reuters)

Alton Towers (Christopher Furlong/Getty) 

Alton Towers (Christopher Furlong/Getty)