THE government's postcode-checker website has crashed this morning, as people scramble to check which tier their area is placed under new restrictions.

This morning, each local authority was palced into one of three tier levels ahead of the end of national lockdown next week. 

The new restrictions will come into force on December 2.

However, the site designed to allow people to check which tier their local authority will fall into has struggled to cope with the volume of traffic. 

A message on the site reads: "Sorry, we're experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again in a few moment."

In a brief window in which it was functioning, the Gazette discovered that Basingstoke and Deane will be placed in Tier 2 (high alert). 

This means:

  • No mixing of households indoors apart from support bubbles will be allowed
  • A maximum of six people can meet outdoors.
  • Pubs and bars will remain closed unless operating as restaurants,
  • Alcohol will only be served as part of a “substantial meal” until 10pm, before venues must close at 11pm.
  • All retail, leisure and personal care services are able to reopen.
  • Overnight stays will only be permitted for those in the same household or support bubble
  • Places of worship can reopen, but people must not interact with anyone outside their household or support bubble.
  • Fifteen guests will be allowed at weddings and civil partnerships, increasing to 30 for funerals.
  • Classes and organised sport can take place outdoors but not indoors if there is any interaction between two different households.
  • Large events including sport and live performances will be open to the public but limited to 50% capacity or 2,000 outdoors and 1,000 indoors.