Coronavirus: Large crowds gather at St Pancras to flee tough Tier 4 Christmas restrictions in London

Travellers were told that social distancing “will not be possible” due to the volume of people on board, and those that felt “uncomfortable” should not stay on the train.

READ MORE: Covid: Boris Johnson imposes new lockdown levels for much of England, with new Christmas rules introduced

Following the announcement at 4pm by Boris Johnson, there were no trains available online from several London stations including Paddington, Kings Cross and Euston by 7pm.

Tier 4 effectively places London in similar restrictions to the national lockdown, with 18 million facing the harshest restrictions on Christmas Day. 

Footage online showed large crowds at St Pancras station waiting to board trains to Leeds.

Cars on the M4 motorway leaving London (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Harriet Clugston said that people on board the trains had attempted to secure space for themselves, but that there was not enough room to do so.

“As expected, train is crammed,” she wrote on Twitter.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson to hold press conference amid rising infection rates in England

“Announcement on Tannoy says social distancing ‘will not be possible’ due to volume and to get off if you are not comfortable with that.

“People have tried to secure social distance by placing on seats but being asked to remove them by other passengers as the train is so full.”

Another woman, who did not wish to be named, said she and her partner had made the “split decision” to take their young son to her parents’ home on the coast.

Speaking to the Press Association she said: “We just made the decision to leave based on the fact that my parents said come, and we couldn’t bear the thought of no fresh air and a toddler going rogue round a small flat for the foreseeable.

“We also really just felt we wanted to get the baby somewhere a bit safer with a garden, though we know a lot of people won’t have that luxury.

She added: “The grandparents are just desperately happy they’ll see their grandson.

“We obviously worry about taking something down to them, but they seem happy to take the risk.”

Izzy, 22, from Bristol, said that she wanted “the security of being home for Christmas” and that her parents had come to collect her before the restrictions came into effect.

“I have a slight nervousness that they might block the roads or something stopping me going home,” she said.

“I’m moving out of my flat so I need my dad to come and get me and he feels more comfortable doing it before Tier 4 kicks in.”

A statement from transport secretary Grant Shapps: “It is incredibly important that people follow the guidance, stay at home and do not attempt to travel. Our focus must be stopping the spread of this virus, protecting lives and our NHS. 

“If you are in Tier 4, the law means you must stay at home and you cannot stay overnight away from home. Across the rest of the country, you must stay local.

“Follow the guidance and please do not come to a station unless you are permitted to travel. Extra BTP officers are being deployed to ensure only those who need to take essential journeys can travel safely.” 

Matt Hancock has condemned scenes of people crowding into train stations to leave London following the announcement of the latest coronavirus restrictions.

“I think those scenes were totally irresponsible. We have all got a responsibility.

“We in Government of course have a responsibility, but so does every single person,” the Health Secretary told BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show.

“The plea that I have is that people will play their part, because it is only by acting – all of us – that we can get this under control.”

Mr Hancock rejected suggestions by critics like the senior Tory MP Sir Charles Walker that he could resign.

“I am dealing with a global pandemic in the best way we possibly can, with huge pressures on the NHS, with case rates that are climbing and we must take action no matter how uncomfortable we find it,” he said.