PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson has announced that schools in England could possibly re-open from March 8.

In a statement in the House of Commons Mr Johnson ruled out letting children return to their desks immediately after half term.

He said a decision to re-open the schools depends on the success of the vaccination programme.

The PM added that an announcement would be made in the week of Monday, February 22 and in any case schools wold be given a fortnight's warning of any opening date. He pledged their would be an announcement on the road map out of lockdown at the same time.

Mr Johnson told the Commons: "Our plan for leaving the lockdown will set out our approach to reopening schools.

"If we achieve our target of vaccinating everyone in the four most at-risk groups with the first dose of the vaccine by February 15 and every passing day sees more progress towards that goal.

"If we achieve that then those groups that have developed immunity from the virus about three weeks later, March 8, we hope it will therefore be safe to begin reopening schools from Monday, March 8.