The Government is being urged by a major ferry firm to rethink travel corridors after hitting its 15 million Covid-19 vaccinations target.

Christophe Mathieu, chief executive of Brittany Ferries, has said advancing vaccination programmes not only in the UK but in France and Spain should lead to the majority of adults in these countries receiving their jabs by the summer.

He said this should allow reciprocal travel corridors to be opened up by the summer holiday season for his company’s routes from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth to France and Spain.

Mr Mathieu said: “Vaccine rollout is moving apace in the UK, thanks to the NHS, volunteers and support of the armed forces.

“While France and Spain are a little behind, the ramp-up is gaining significant momentum.

“We all believe that vaccines are the way out of this dreadful crisis.

“So by spring we think there will be a clear case for the adoption of vaccination-led travel corridors, or in our case sea lanes, that allow holidays to go ahead this summer and for hope to return.”

He continued: “Now is the time for optimism, not a shutdown on the summer getaway.

“Lockdown Britons should look forward to holiday with growing confidence and the time is ripe for a rethink on travel corridor policy.

“We should all be encouraged to book with companies that offer flexible travel, allowing easy amendments or refunds, in the event that the situation changes in the months ahead.”