THE Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out his stall for how England will leave lockdown today.

A four-step programme for unlocking the country was laid out by the PM, who told MPs in the House of Commons 'end was really in sight'.

Mr Johnson said he hoped the unlocking would be 'slow and irreversible', promising that the country would not going into another lockdown in future.

However, he added the dates in the four stages were guidelines, with the plan being driven by 'data not dates'.

He also said he could not rule out regional lockdowns in the future, like the Tier system used last year.

Here's a list of the opening up measures and their provisional dates from the announcement in the Commons today...

Step 1: March 8

- top 4 priority groups will be benefitting from increased protection of vaccine 

- Schools will reopen 

- Twice weekly testing of secondary schools

-Childcare bubbles will be encouraged to get tested 

- Children's activities will restart 

- Meeting up with one other personally socially outdoors will be allowed

-Clinically vulnerable should shield until end of March 

- Care home residents can have one named visitor 

A further easing of restrictions will take place on March 29 when the school Easter holidays begin – with larger groups of up to six people or two households allowed to gather in parks and gardens.

Step 2: at least five weeks after step 1 (no earlier than April 12) 

- Non-essential retail will reopen (including hairdressers, nail salons) 

- Gyms will reopen 

- Holiday lets to reopen

- libraries to reopen

- Outdoor hospitality like beer gardens

- No curfew and 'no substantial meals' 

- Zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas will reopen

Step 3 (not before May 17)

- Limit of 30 people outside

- two households or groups of up to six people will be allowed to mix indoors

- Reopen hospitality venues indoors

- Children's play areas to reopen indoors

- Concert halls, theatres, stadiums reopen for limited crowds  

Step 4 (no earlier than June 21)

- Remove all legal limits on social contact and weddings

- Reopen nightclubs 

- Theatre performances