Hopes of next week’s Cheltenham Festival going ahead as scheduled received a boost on Tuesday as British Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed no current plans to cancel mass events, despite the ongoing threat of coronavirus.

Free nicotine patches are to be offered on the UK's national health service as part of a major drive to help smokers quit their habit in the New Year.

MOVES to prevent couples from being allowed to choose the sex of their baby for reasons other than medical concerns were welcomed by doctors, fertility experts and ethical watchdogs in Britain yesterday.