Measures including enhanced contact tracing and testing have been put in place after the United Kingdom identified dozens of cases of the "Delta plus" variant.

Speaking this afternoon, the prime minister's spokesman said the government and Public Health England had put the precautions in place where the new coronavirus variant had been identified.

He added that 41 cases had been found in the UK, and "enhanced contact tracing, testing, and isolation" were among the steps taken.

Cases of the variant have been identified in the East Midlands, London, the North West, South East, South West and West Midlands as of 14 June.

It was first sequenced in the UK on 26 April, and the initial five people to be identified with it had been in contact with individuals who travelled through or from Nepal and Turkey.

These cases were all in the West Midlands.

(With input from agencies)