A head teacher has written to students and parents asking them to continue wearing face coverings in class despite secondary school rules being lifted.

Andy Byers, from Framwellgate School, County Durham, warned against a blanket lifting of Plan B restrictions while rates remained high in the North East.

His school has about 60 students and 10 staff absent due to Covid.

Rate figures for the week to 16 January show the 12 North East councils were in the 14 worst-hit places in England.

Is it too soon to lift the Omicron restrictions?

Masks in secondary schools are no longer required in classrooms and will not be needed in communal areas from 27 January, in changes announced on Thursday.

The prime minister said the decision to return to Plan A reflected a fall in Covid-19 cases and the success of the booster campaign, telling MPs that scientists believed the Omicron wave had peaked nationally.