Public Health England has recommended the use of vitamin D supplements during lockdown, as people are spending more time indoors and less time exposed to sunlight.

Since vitamin D is created by the body using direct sunlight on the skin, it is thought that people may not be producing enough of it due to isolation measures.

Health experts now advise people to take 10mg of the vitamin a day to ensure healthy bones and muscles.

"This is because you may not be getting enough vitamin D from sunlight if you're indoors most of the day," Public Health England said.

Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium and phosphate, which keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

Graham Keen, executive director of the Health Food Manufacturers Association, added: "Whilst vitamin D supplementation has long been recommended for key population groups, this broadened advice is welcome to help everyone maintain healthy joints and muscles."

Authorities say there is no evidence that vitamin D reduces the risk of coronavirus, as some reports have recently claimed.

Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England, said "there is no sufficient evidence to support recommending vitamin D for reducing the risk of Covid-19."

Apart from sunlight, other sources of the vitamin include egg yolks, red meat and oily fish.

It is also sometimes added to breakfast cereals and spreads, and can be taken as a supplement.

Most people usually receive the necessary amount of vitamin D from sunlight between late March and the end of September.

However, vitamin D supplements are advised during the autumn and winter to make up for the reduced levels of sunlight.