Devon's Director of Public Health has welcomed the prospect of a delay to the lifting of coronavirus restrictions across the UK.

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to make an announcement at 6pm - and it's being widely reported that he'll confirm a four-week postponement of Step 4 of his 'roadmap to recovery'.

The extension will be put to a Commons vote this month and could trigger a sizeable Conservative backbench rebellion.

But Steve Brown, Devon's Director of Public Health, agrees with the Prime Minister.

He said: "From the public health perspective, with case numbers rising again across the country and with a much more transmissible variant now the dominant strain, delaying the further lifting of restrictions would be sensible.

"Not only would that maintain the rules around social contact, but the delay would also allow more people to receive their first or second jabs, offering them valuable protection against this latest strain.

"I ask all Devon residents to be patient. We will get there, but we need to move with great caution.

"We are seeing case numbers start to rise in the county and we will see the Delta variant becoming the dominant strain.

"We must therefore continue to follow the all important rules on social distancing, wearing face coverings when indoors in public places and washing our hands regularly.

"Please continue to get tested regularly using the rapid lateral flow tests, and self isolate if you test positive or are asked to do so by contact tracing teams.

"And please take up the vaccination when you are invited to do so."