The mayor of Oswestry has called on people in the town to continue following Covid-19 guidelines after news broke regarding a potential vaccine.

Councillor Duncan Kerr does not want residents in the town to refrain from following guidance amid the announcement that a vaccine could be rolled out in the UK before the New Year, according to Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

He praised people in the town for adhering to rules so far, and has encouraged them to continue looking after their loved ones in the coming months.

“Obviously it’s fabulous news that there looks to be a vaccine on the horizon, but it’s absolutely vital that we continue to adhere to the guidance,” he said.

“We need to do all we can to look after each other and think about those who are close to us.

“We need to take precautions and adhere to lockdown, wear masks and think about hands, face and space.

“It’s absolutely essential that we get through this time until the vaccine comes to our aid.”

The mayor insists he understands how tough it can be to spend time apart from loved ones, but believes it will be beneficial in the long-term effort to stop the spread of the virus.

He added: “I think people in Oswestry have generally been very sensible, but there’s no harm in reminding each other why we’re doing this.

“It is difficult to do, people are having to do without hugging each other and meeting friends and family members.

“Of course it can be painful and hard on everyone, but it doesn’t harm to remind people why we’re doing it as it is helping to save lives.”

News broke on Monday that American pharmaceutical company Pfizer believe they have a vaccine which is 90 per cent effective against Covid-19.

It comes after months of research from multiple pharmaceutical companies across the world.

The news arrived less than a week after England entered a four-week lockdown, while a 17-day fire break came to an end in Wales.

The experimental vaccine is in the final stages of testing and involves injecting the patient with part of the virus’s genetic code in order to train your immune system.

Two doses are needed three weeks apart and the trials from six countries show that a 90 per-cent protection rate has been achieved seven days after the first jab.

Data released about the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine does not indicate how long immunity lasts, but suggests protection is achieved 28 days after vaccination.

Deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam told a Downing Street press conference he was “hopeful” there would be “some vaccine by Christmas”.

The UK’s medicines regulator could approve the Pfizer or Oxford jabs within days of a licence application being submitted due to rolling analysis of the data, according to Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

He said the military and NHS staff are on standby to roll out a Covid-19 vaccine across the UK from the start of December and will work “seven days a week”, with GPs, new vaccination centres and pharmacists all playing a role.

The vaccine requires regulatory approval and assessment of its safety data before it is rolled out.