France bans UK holidaymakers

British tourists will be banned from France amid concern over the “extremely rapid” rise in Omicron COVID cases in the UK.

From Saturday morning, France is barring travel to and from Britain without “compelling reasons”.

It added that for those able to travel from the UK under a “compelling reason”, there will be the obligation to register the address of their stay in France.

Government spokesman Gabriel Attal told BFM television the measures will include reducing the validity of pre-departure PCR tests to 24 hours from 48 for travellers arriving from Britain.

They will have to test again on arrival and isolate “in a place they choose” for at least 48 hours pending the result, Mr Attal added.

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said hauliers will not be affected.

“To confirm, I have liaised with my French counterpart, and hauliers will remain exempt,” he tweeted.

French nationals and their spouses and children are also unaffected by the new rules.

Omicron was first detected on November 30 in the country, with 170 confirmed cases between 14-15 December.