Mixed picture of deserted stations and busy roads on first morning of UK lockdown

The UK is waking up to the first of at least 21 days under strict new measures curbing their freedom of movement in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Boris Johnson announced a “national emergency” on Monday night, demanding the public listen to Government advice to remain in their homes in order to save lives during the coronavirus pandemic.

Many streets and stations were deserted during what is normally rush hour - though some trains were still full and cars were on the roads.

Under the new measures announced by the Government, people will only be allowed out of their homes for:

  • shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible;

  • one form of exercise a day - for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household;

  • any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person;

  • and travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home.

In Leeds, some were up early in the morning for a trip to Sainsbury’s, barely 10 hours after the Prime Minister’s address to the nation.

People queue at a Sainsbury's supermarket at Colton, on the outskirts of Leeds. Credit: PA

The city centre was virtually deserted as non-essential shops were also ordered to close by Mr Johnson.

A quiet Leeds city centre as non-essential shops were told to close. Credit: PA

In Bristol meanwhile, Temple Meads station was almost entirely empty.

Bristol Temple Meads train station is empty of rush-hour commuters. Credit: PA

In Essex, dozens appear to be queuing outside Costco ahead of what is set to be a long period of self-isolation.

That's despite Government advice that there is no need to stockpile food.

Queues outside Costco. Credit: PA

In London, usually bustling with commuters and traffic jams during rush hour, the streets and stations were strangely quiet.

Waterloo Station, usually one of the busiest in the country, was eerily quiet.

But not everyone had adhered to Mr Johnson’s declaration and many still have to travel for essential work.

On London's tube network, pictures have been shared of crammed carriages as a reduced service has left fewer trains for commuters to spread out on and sit or stand at least 2m apart from each other.

Nurse Julia Harris, who commutes to work at Imperial College NHS Trust, said she had left earlier and changed her route in a bid to avoid crowds but still found services busy.

She said: “Seats on the train all had at least one person so people needed to stand, and the District line was busy as well.

"I still don’t think things have improved as a large amount of people are commuting early in the morning.

“It is concerning because I have to come to work.

"The choice isn’t there and my commute is quite long.

"I worry for my health more on my commute than actually being in the hospital.”

A well-occupied train on the Underground. Credit: PA

Ms Harris said the reduction in Transport for London services meant “you now have more people waiting and piling onto the Tubes and trains”.

“The issue is key workers aren’t just health professionals – I think we under-estimated how many people are needed to keep things running.”

In response to pictures of crowded transport, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said “we must stop all non-essential travel”.

An empty King's Cross St Pancras in London. Credit: Kavita Patel

Mr Khan demanded that employers enable their staff to work from home “unless it’s absolutely necessary”, adding: “Ignoring these rules means more lives lost.”

He added a growing a number of staff are off sick or self-isolating, meaning Transport for London is unable to run more services.

Traffic on The Highway in east London in what is usually the rush hour. Credit: PA

Vernon Everitt, TfL’s managing director of customers, communication and technology, said: “To save lives, everyone must follow the Government and Mayor’s instructions to stay at home and only travel if absolutely essential.

"Only critical workers should be using public transport and no one else.

“We thank those acting on that which has brought passenger journeys on the Tube down by around 87 per cent.

"But to save lives and enable critical NHS and other workers to use our reduced services, more people need to stop travelling right now.”

  • Elsewhere in the UK

A man exercising at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham. Credit: PA
Princes Street in Edinburgh. Credit: PA
Empty streets in Bath. Credit: PA
A high street in Guildford, Surrey, with almost nobody on it. Credit: PA
The scene over in Bournemouth. Credit: PA
A playground shut off in Leicester. Credit: PA
Lakeside Retail Park in Essex. Credit: PA
China Town in Liverpool. Credit: PA

Coronavirus: Everything you need to know