NEW research shows that more than half of Southampton residents will refuse to wear face masks to help combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Data published by the N95 Mask Company shows that Southampton is one of the top five towns and cities where people have chosen not to cover their faces when they go out.

According to the UK Mask Map 55% per cent of Southampton residents will shun masks.

Only three other places - Leicester, Dudley and Wrexham - have a higher percentage.

The figures have been published ahead of tonight's announcement by Boris Johnson, who is expected to announce a slight easing of the lockdown.

Any relaxation of the rules could be accompanied by an instruction to wear masks in public.

An N95 Mask Company spokesman said: "The map of the UK displays the regions that will be donning face masks and those that will not be entertaining the idea.

"Greater London (76%), North East England (68%) and Wales (61%) were the top areas for mask-wearing, with the South East (56%), East England (52%) and the East Midlands (50%) ranking lowest in terms of their mask-wearing intentions.

"Earlier this week 14 top scientists from the prestigious Royal Society put an end to the mask debate, confirming that face masks are an important tool for fighting the coronavirus.

"Masks are already central to the lockdown exit strategies of many countries where wearing face masks is now mandatory in public, however the UK Government is yet to set rules on mask-wearing.

"According to the survey of 2,000 UK adults, three in five adults said they would wear a mask (61%) in public to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and, reassuringly, 95 percent would wear one if they presented coronavirus symptoms."

NHS GP and clinical advisor to mask company, Dr Gero Baiarda, said: "It’s concerning that so many people are actively choosing not to wear any face-covering at all to protect themselves and others.

“It is without doubt that there are a number of physical and psychological barriers to wearing masks, but these must be put aside in the interest of our health.

"My advice to everyone is to wear a face mask whenever you might come into close proximity with other people outside of your own home - this could be in an open or closed space.

"If you find yourself having to consciously maintain a two-metre distance, you should be wearing a mask."