NHS England said as of 29 December, there were 87 flu patients at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital along with 32 at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. It has led NHS bosses to advise people who become unwell with a winter virus to self-care and call 111 to stop "significant pressure" being put on the healthcare system.

On December 29 the NHS reported 5,074 patients in hospital with the flu in England, four times the amount the same time the previous month.

People admitted to hospital for flu in England are soaring with advice on symptoms when you need to seek urgent help highlighted

The number of people with flu in hospital in England has risen sharply over Christmas, NHS chiefs warn. The latest data shows there were 5,000 patients in hospital with the virus at the end of last week - almost 3.

A growing number of people are sharing a little-known symptom of flu and Covid on social media - a warning sign visible in the eyes. According to the NHS, flu cases have surged, with 4,469 patients in hospital beds in England daily last week, including 211 in critical care, a 17% increase from the previous week.

Brits have been given an "urgent" health warning to book a GP appointment if their flu symptoms don't clear up after seven days, amid what the NHS is calling potentially the "worst" flu season on record.

NHS engulfed as number of people in hospital with flu quadruples in a month - The number of people sick with flu in English hospitals is also up year-on-year