A new variant of Covid-19 could be behind an increase in cases in the Essex area, the Health Secretary suggested - but appears not to cause stronger symptoms or make the vaccine less effective.

Matt Hancock was speaking in the House of Commons after announcing that Maldon would be one of the areas of Essex placed under Tier 3 restrictions from 00.01am on Wednesday (16 December).

He added that there was "nothing to suggest" the mutated coronavirus causes stronger symptoms or that it will be resistant to the vaccine which is being rolled out.

"We have identified a new variant of coronavirus, which may be associated with the fastest spread in the south-east of England. Initial analysis suggests that this variant is growing faster than the existing variants," Mr Hancock said.

"We've currently identified over 1,000 cases with this variant, predominantly in the south of England, although cases have been identified in nearly 60 different local authority areas, and numbers are increasing rapidly."

He added: "We do not know the extent to which this is because of the new variant.

"But no matter its cause we have to take swift and decisive action which unfortunately is absolutely essential to control this deadly disease while the vaccine is rolled out."