Essex County Council (ECC) has made some key changes to services after most areas of the county - including Maldon district – moved into Tier 4 restrictions on Sunday (20 December).

These are as follows:

• Parks will remain open while parts of Essex remain in Tier 4, but cafes and attractions are closed. You can find out more from the Essex Parks website via the link here.

• The grounds, gardens and toilets at Cressing Temple Barns will remain open. The tearoom and buildings are closed.

• Household waste recycling centres remain open across Essex, but residents have been urged to follow the Government's 'Stay at Home' advice and only visit the sites if it is essential. If you are living in a Tier 2 area of Essex you cannot visit a recycling centre in a Tier 4 area, and vice versa. To find out more on this visit the Love Essex website here.

• All Essex outdoor activity centres and The Lock climbing wall are closed. You can find more information on the Essex Outdoors website using the link here.

• The Essex Record Office is closed – further information is available from the website here.

• All Essex libraries in Tier 4 areas are temporarily closed to the public. However, public computer access is still available by appointment only and residents can still collect their reservations. In Tier 2 districts (Colchester, Tendring and Uttlesford districts), Essex Libraries remain open.You can find full details via the link here.

• Registration services, including those that operate from Essex Libraries are open as normal for birth registrations and notice of marriage or civil partnership appointments. There is more detailed information available on the Essex County Council website through the link here.

• Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies planned in Tier 4 areas are no longer permitted to take place except in exceptional circumstances. Ceremonies and civil partnership ceremonies in Tier 2 areas can take place.

In line with their usual Christmas and New Year operating times, Essex Highways will also temporarily pause nearly all non-emergency road works between 23 December to 4 January. However, in exceptional cases and for public safety, traffic management cones and barriers or temporary lights will remain on site. You can check Highways information on the Essex Highways website by following the link here.

The Government is due to review the Tier system on Wednesday, 30 December.