The trust that runs hospitals in Barrow and Kendal has been told to keep hold of documents that could be relevant to the Covid-19 public inquiry.

The Morecambe Bay NHS trust is among all those nationally to have been told to retain material related to Covid for the forthcoming probe

The inquiry, which will examine the government's handling of the pandemic, is set to start work later this year.

Papers for a recent meeting of the trust's board of directors said: "Back in May, the prime minister announced that he intended to launch a public inquiry into the pandemic in the first half of 2022, under the 2005 Inquiries Act.

"National and regional teams have been established and a communication was received earlier this month from the Northwest Regional Team.

"The regional team have issued a 'stop notice'.

"The stop notice is a preservation order that requires the trust to retain all documents and records that maybe relevant to both Covid-19 and the recovery and restoration of services that might be relevant to the inquiry."

The trust oversees Furness General Hospital in Barrow, Westmorland General in Kendal and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

The Government said the inquiry would look into the UK’s pandemic response to ensure 'we learn the right lessons for the future'.

The probe is due to start in spring and will have with the power to compel the production of documents and to summon witnesses to give evidence.

Retired judge Baroness Heather Hallett has been appointed as chair of the inquiry.

The Prime Minister is consulting Baroness Hallett and ministers from the devolved administrations on the terms of reference for the inquiry.

She said: "The pandemic has affected us all, some much worse than others. I am acutely conscious of the suffering it has caused to so many.

"I shall be seeking views from those who have lost loved ones and all other affected groups about the inquiry’s terms of reference.

"I want to assure the British public that, once the terms of reference are finalised, I shall do my utmost to ensure the inquiry answers as many questions as possible about the UK’s response to the pandemic so that we can all learn lessons for the future."

Boris Johnson said the inquiry's chair 'shares my determination that the inquiry examines in a forensic and thoroughgoing way the government’s response to the pandemic'.