Fines of £800 for anyone attending a house party of more than 15 people will be introduced in England from next week, under new Covid measures.

These will double for each repeat offence to a maximum of £6,400.

At a No 10 news conference, Home Secretary Priti Patel said there remained a “small minority that refuse to do the right thing”.

“To them my message is clear: If you don’t follow rules then the police will enforce them,” she said.

Ms Patel added that the government would “not stand by while a small number of individuals put others at risk”.