It is believed that hundreds of people were vaccinated in 70 hospital centres across the UK on Tuesday - dubbed "V-Day" by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

The government's scientific director warned that the public may need to wear face masks for another year despite the launch of a coronavirus vaccine

Sir Patrick Vallance hailed the start of the UK's largest immunisation programme as a "tremendous day" but said life may not return to normal until the spring of 2021.

"It may be that next winter, even with vaccination, we need measures like masks," he said. "We don't yet know how good all vaccines will be in preventing virus transmission.