COVID vaccinations have begun in the north of the Cotswolds and a leading doctor says the aim is to give the older generation their freedom back.

North Cotswold Hospital in Moreton in Marsh is among the centres where the vaccination is being administered to people aged 80 and over.

Dr Hywel Furn-Davies, GP and clinical director for North Cotswolds Primary Care Network (PCN), speaking on the first day of administering the Pfizer vaccine, said around 120 patients had received the jab so far that day.

Dr Furn-Davies said the vaccine would “give this generation their life back”.

One person who received the vaccine on the first day in Moreton was Joan from Upper Rissington who said it had been “dealt with amazingly”.

People are asked to wait for their GP surgery to contact them about the vaccine.

Dr Andy Seymour, Clinical Chair at NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge human and societal impact and the imminent roll out of a vaccination programme is to be warmly welcomed.

“GP practices and community NHS services will be supporting the public vaccination effort across their local areas and it’s been an incredible effort to have reached this point with such a short lead in time and so many other competing pressures.

“The NHS in Gloucestershire has adopted a really innovative model of vaccination building on strong local networks and joined up care in communities.”

GP surgeries will contact people with information on clinics and how to book an appointment.

Based on local arrangements, clinics will be in GP surgeries, community centres or hospitals.