Portugal has been removed from the UK government's "green list" of destinations from which people can return to England without the need to quarantine, the Department for Transport announced on Thursday.

Portugal has moved to the amber list due to variants of concern and emerging mutations, the ministry said in a statement, to safeguard public health against variants of concern and protect the vaccine rollout.

"The decision to move Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores) to the amber list follows increased concern in the spread of variants of coronavirus, including a mutation of the Delta variant, and the risk that is posed of bringing these back to the UK if people are not required to quarantine," the statement said.

"The situation in Portugal has required swift action to protect the gains made with the vaccine rollout – there has been an almost doubling in the COVID-19 test positivity rate in Portugal since the first review for traffic light allocations, far exceeding the ONS estimated national positivity rate in the UK."

The decision will be met with dismay among travellers and the tourist industry in Portugal as hopes had been high for a summer holiday abroad.

No additional countries have been moved from amber to green status and Portugal was the only major holiday destination left on the green list which had 12 countries on it.

Meanwhile, seven countries were added to the "red list": Afghanistan, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Trinidad and Tobago.

An individual who has been in a country or territory on the red list in the previous 10 days will be denied entry unless they are a British or Irish national, or have residence rights in the UK.

All changes to the lists will take effect at 4am on June 8.

(With input from agencies)