Bosses have confirmed passengers on planes flying in and out of Southend Airport must continue to wear a face covering from Monday.

The legal requirement to wear a face mask will be removed on Monday as part of the Government’s final easing of lockdown.

It will be recommended people wear coverings in crowded areas as part of the rule changes, but it will no longer be mandatory.

Southend Airport says it will be asking customers to wear masks inside the terminal building, as well as during their flights.

A spokesman said: “Southend Airport welcomes news of restrictions easing, we continue to follow Government guidance and will continue to utilise the safety measures that the airport invested into during the pandemic to keep our passengers and employees safe whilst travelling.

“Masks will continue to be recommended whist within the terminal building.

“Following consultation with our current operating airlines, face coverings will continue to be mandatory whilst on board.”

Bosses say social distance markers and protective screens will remain in place inside the airport, as will hand sanitiser stations.

Regular cleaning will also continue to ensure the terminal building is ‘Covid secure’.

The spokesman added: “The airport team are trained in Covid safety and will be on hand to support our customers who we look forward to welcoming to the airport.”

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C2c has yet to comment on the future of face masks on its trains, but has said it will make an announcement before Monday.

Fellow train operator Greater Anglia will also be asking passengers to wear face coverings when trains or stations are busy.

Spokesperson Juliette Maxam told the BBC: “If you drill down into the Government's roadmap, its recommendation is they expect and recommend we should all carry on wearing face coverings in crowded areas and that includes busy trains.

"So we are going to advise people, if it's busy on the train or in the station, pop on your face covering please."