Britain has recorded another 52 COVID-19 deaths in its daily update - the lowest number since early October.

Latest figures also show that 4,618 new COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the past 24 hours. It compares to 5,534 infections and 121 fatalities yesterday.

Both figures are also down on the 5,177 coronavirus cases and 82 deaths posted last Sunday.

More than 24 million people have now had a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, with another 512,108 jabs administered yesterday.

It takes the total number of people who have had their first dose to 24,196,211, while 1,584,909 have now also had their second jab - a rise of 52,155.

The rate of vaccinations could accelerate dramatically in the coming days, with front line staff on standby to go to "maximum capacity" and inoculate twice as many people from next week as supplies increase.

The statistics will provide some encouragement to ministers as lockdown rules across the UK begin to be eased.

(With input from agencies)