Newspaper headlines: 'Tier 4 for all' and 'Royals break rule of six'

In the words of the main headline in The Times, the "Mutant Virus is Everywhere". The paper highlights a warning by the chief scientific adviser that cases of the new strain of coronavirus are already spread around the country - and tougher restrictions for areas of England not already in tier four - "stay at home" - are likely.

The Daily Mail says the comments by Sir Patrick Vallance put England "on notice" for a New Year lockdown. It is a thought echoed by The Daily Express, which predicts further restrictions could come into force "within days".

Professor Andrew Hayward - who is an expert on infectious diseases - tells the Guardian the pandemic has entered a "really critical phase" and decisive action is needed.

On its front page, The Daily Telegraph reports that ministers are considering keeping schools in England closed for all of January, amid fears the new strain is spreading faster among children.

The Times says Boris Johnson acknowledged for the first time on Monday that there were doubts about the new term with the prime minister promising that the planned staggered return to class would take place "if we possibly can".

"Britain in Isolation," runs a headline in the Daily Mirror, which says more than 40 countries have now cancelled flights from the UK because of the new variant.

The Telegraph says ministers are drawing up contingency plans to test all lorry drivers taking goods across the Channel, in an attempt to end disruption at the ports. The paper believes French officials are pushing for hauliers to undergo a "gold standard" Covid test, which involves lengthy waits for the results.

The Times says quicker "lateral flow" tests could be carried out but it adds that with thousands of drivers requiring screening every day, this could prove "a major logistical headache".

The Financial Times reports that Britain and the EU are edging towards a compromise on fisheries, in an attempt to unlock a post-Brexit trade deal.

According to The Telegraph, the government has tabled a proposal which would see the value of the EU's fishing catch in UK waters being cut by around a third, far closer to the 25% reduction Brussels had been pushing for. But EU diplomats tell the Guardian they still doubt this latest offer will be acceptable in full.

The Mail reports that Prince William and Prince Edward have been accused of accidentally breaking the "rule of six" during a Christmas-themed woodland walk with their families on the Queen's Sandringham estate.

The two groups were apparently spotted mixing and chatting on several occasions - although the nine royals were social-distancing. Royal sources tell the paper the families arrived and left separately and any contact was inadvertent.

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Finally, a stretch of river in West Yorkshire is to become the first in the UK to be given official bathing water status, a designation previously accorded only to coastal sites.

The Yorkshire Post says the move means the waters of the River Wharfe in Ilkley - a popular swimming spot - will now undergo much tougher tests.

Campaigners who've been fighting to stop the release of untreated sewage into inland waters tell the Guardian it is a landmark moment for the environment.