Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out plans to "cautiously but irreversibly" lift the UK out of its third national lockdown, with plans kicking off with the reopening of schools on 8 March.

"I know they are some who are worried that we are being too ambitious and that it is arrogant to impose any kind of plan upon a virus, I agree we must always be humble and cautious," Johnson told MPs. "However, the vaccination programme has dramatically changed the odds in our favour."