THE Prime Minister and top medical experts have praised Southampton volunteers for their help in trying to find a cure for Covid-19.

At yesterday’s Downing Street media briefing Boris Johnson, Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty have recognised the effort made by residents in the city who have been volunteering for a coronavirus vaccine trial.

As reported, last month scientists launched a search for 600 volunteers for the second part of the trial.

It came as the first one- which also involved volunteers from Southampton - "went well".

Talking to the Daily Echo at the N10 media briefing, Professor Whitty said: “Actually Southampton has a real record of citizens taking part in trials, in studies and this is the way medicine progresses not just for coronavirus but generally, so an enormous thank you for what people do to volunteer.”

Volunteers are being recruited by researchers at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and the University of Southampton to help with the work developed by clinical teams in Oxford.

Thanking Southampton volunteers, Sir Patrick added: “We got to find out what works, what doesn’t and the way to do that is volunteers and every time somebody volunteers for a trial that is them being selfless for the rest of society so a big thank you from me.”

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister - who also thanked those who are volunteering for the trial - also pledged to support the cruise industry in Southampton.

When asked what he will do to ensure the cruise industry is safe he said: “Like all industries the cruise industry I think it’s going to have to go through, in the short term at least, a period of self-reinvention to make sure that it is Covid secure and I’ve no doubt that it can do it. It’s a great British industry, we will support it in any way that we can.” The news comes as last December Boris Johnson visited the Port of Southampton.