The government’s roadmap out of lockdown has been welcomed by Swindon’s health boss.

Boris Johnson’s plan outlines four steps for easing restrictions, with the first starting on March 8.

Director of public health Steve Maddern said: “I feel very hopeful about the roadmap because it does give us that light at the end of the tunnel and for me it’s incredibly welcomed.

“But we will only get to those dates highlighted in that roadmap if we continue to see that downward trend in regard to cases and the impact to hospitals and the further rollout of vaccination.

“We will get there, but Swindon really needs to play its part, so very much going back to that original wording of ‘it’s really up to all of us’.”

The government hopes that the increased protection offered by vaccines will gradually replace the restrictions.

All restrictions are set to be removed on June 21.

For further information, the roadmap can be found in full on www.gov.uk