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.

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.

The number of people hospitalised with flu in England has quadrupled in a month heaping pressure on NHS services, new figures show. An average of 4,469 flu patients were in beds in England each day last week, including 211 in critical care.

The number of flu hospitalisations in England is more than four times the level it was a month ago, according to NHS data. Figures from NHS England show an average of 4,469 flu patients were in beds in England each day last week,

NHS services are facing “significant challenges” due to a rise in the number of flu patients and winter pressures. Recent NHS England data has revealed that as of December 29, 68 patients were in University Sussex Trust hospitals with the flu,

Some hospitals across the country have restricted visitors to protect patients due to the rise in people admitted with flu.

Health officials have urged people to avoid putting extra pressure on the NHS as a spell of cold weather hits the. 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.