Rishi Sunak has confirmed that the furlough scheme will be extended until the end of October.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a four-month extension to the furlough scheme for workers in the UK.

The scheme which pays 80 per cent of the salary of people unable to work, will be extended to the end of October, with the scheme running as it is until August with 'greater flexibility' from August to October.

Announcing the extension to October, Mr Sunak said: "By that point, we will have provided eight months of support to British people and businesses. Until the end of July, there will be no changes to the scheme whatsoever."

Furloughed employees will be able to return to work part-time after the end of July, with employers paying part of their salaries.

The chancellor said that from August, the scheme would continue for all sectors and regions of the country but with greater flexibility to support the transition back to work.

Rishi Sunak said the furlough scheme had protected about 7.5 million jobs at almost 1m companies.