Russia, India, Canada and Hong Kong have joined the growing number of countries to cut off travel to the UK, causing visitors to rush home on Britain's like student Brody to rush back almost like a ticking time bomb because we didn't know whether it was going to close immediately or when it's gonna close.

I think we've seen more you countries announcing that they're going toe lower, that put restrictions in place anyway, so we didn't know whether it's gonna go now or later.

So France has shut its border not only to UK arrivals but also to trucks closing off one of the most important trade arteries with mainland Europe and raising the prospect of UK food shortages.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Britain was well positioned for disruption thanks to preparations already in place for the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31st.

But British supermarkets like Sainsbury's said shortages would start to appear within days if transport ties were not quickly restored.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed tougher restrictions for millions of people in England less than a week before Christmas.

People then dashed to train stations to travel home before they came into force.

We have on this new variant, Johnson said.

There was no evidence that the new variant, which is said to be up to 70% more infectious, was more lethal or caused a more severe illness.

The shop said Britain was simply seeing what was already at large in other countries.

We've detected that first, but we know already that the case is being found in continental Europe and other countries, including countries which have place travel bands of the Netherlands, for example, actually have much higher case rates per 100,000.

The global alarm was also reflected in financial markets.

European shares slumped, with travel and leisure stocks bearing the brunt of the pain on the British pound tumbled 2.5% against the dollar.