France is tightening restrictions on arrivals from the UK from Monday due to concerns about rising cases of the Indian variant of COVID-19.

Only French nationals and residents and those with essential reasons to travel will be allowed to enter from the UK from 31 May. They will have to present a negative PCR test and quarantine for seven days, after which they must be tested again.

The quarantine is expected to be strictly enforced, with fines of up to €1000 for those who are found in breach.

The move by France follows a decision by Austria to ban flights from the UK from 1 June and Germany’s decision to ban all but essential travel from the UK due to concerns about the spread of the Indian variant of COVID-19.

It’s yet another blow to the UK travel industry, which had hoped that British holidaymakers would be allowed to visit France without quarantining from 9 June.