Landmarks light up to celebrate NHS heroes battling Covid-19 in moving display

London buildings have been lit blue to pay tribute to NHS workers putting their lives at risk as they work on the frontline of the battle against Covid-19.

Landmarks, historic buildings and major sporting and entertainment venues have been illuminated blue - including The London Eye, Trafalgar Square, County Hall and Wembley Arch.

It comes as the UK coronavirus death toll hit 1,162 over the last 24 hours, a record increase since the first wave in April.

It marks the second largest single-day increase in recorded deaths during the course of the pandemic, with only April 21 seeing a higher figure of 1,224 deaths.

Blackpool Tower was also lit up this afternoon to thank frontline workers as they battle soaring numbers of infections (Dave Nelson)

Cases have risen by 52,618 as the country remains in the grip of the devastating spike in infections.

Iconic landmarks in the capital illuminated on Thursday afternoon in a gesture of gratitude towards frontline workers.

The London Fire Brigade also paid its tribute as it tweeted: "Tonight, as buildings across London light up blue we say thank you to all those working incredibly hard in a national effort against #Covid19 #LightItBlue."

The fountain in Trafalgar Square was also illuminated as an increasing amount of hospitals face being overwhelmed (Getty Images)

The last time the landmarks were lit was on July 4 as part of the #LightitBlue campaign.

Landmarks were illuminated across the city in remembrance of those who lost their lives to Covid-19 as part of a weekend celebrating the NHS' 72nd birthday.

The peak in cases has been attributed to a new strain of coronavirus said to be up to 70 per cent more transmittable and which was first identified in Kent.

The Shard was among the landmarks that lit up just one day after the third lockdown in England became law (Getty Images)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson as a result announced a third lockdown for England that became law on Wednesday and will last till mid-February.

It came as NHS trusts in London are on the verge of being overwhelmed, according to leaked health service documents.

Hospitals in London face a shortfall of nearly 2,000 general and acute and intensive care beds by January 19, the HSJ, which saw the leak, reported.

Mr Johnson committed to offering the coronavirus vaccine to more than 13 million people in the top four priority groups by mid-February.

A mass inoculation of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine began today as jabs were delivered to sites across the UK.

The Department of Health said at least 1.3 million people have received at least the first of the two needed doses of the vaccine so far.