The BBC reports the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has said pre-departure Covid testing for travellers returning to the UK would be "valuable".

Sage also said the government’s policy of asking travellers to take a test two days after they arrive would "identify significantly fewer cases" than extra tests on days five or eight, the BBC said.

The advice is in the minutes of a meeting held on Monday. It prompted a question to Boris Johnson in parliament, with the prime minister refusing to meet with devolved governments or reconvene the Cobra emergency committee to discuss the issue.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the government should act.

"It is totally unacceptable that ministers are failing to take action at the border when even their own advisors are telling them to introduce pre-departure tests," she said.

"It cannot be right that people can travel to an airport, board a busy flight, queue at busy departure gates, and travel on trains and buses in the UK, all without having taken a test."