The North East of England looks set to be spared a Tier 3 lockdown for now after cases rates began to fall and leaders told the government to "sod off".
It's understood the area is no longer among those in the most intensive and urgent talks with government about moving into the harshest restrictions.
Latest figures show case rates have fallen in the last week in five out of seven North East councils that were forced into toughest local lockdown rules last month.
No10 also said the R rate in the region had "begun to fall", although measures would be kept under review. Newcastle's new cases fell from 545 per 100,000 in the week to October 8, to 348 per 100,000 in the week to October 15.
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