Four people are being treated for suspected coronavirus in Britain after flying in from China - the epicentre of the deadly outbreak.

Three patients are being treated in Scotland as well as one more in Belfast, Northern Ireland, it

has been reported.

The patients in Edinburgh and Glasgow are suffering flu-like symptoms and respiratory difficulties after arriving via London from Wuhan, the Chinese city where the deadly outbreak started.

It is understood that those affected could be Chinese students.

Coronavirus has killed 17 people in China, with five cities on lockdown, and infected thousands more with fears it could spread like wildfire.

Professor Jurgen Haas, head of infection medicine at the University of Edinburgh, believes there will be "many more cases" in other UK cities.

Professor Haas said: "We have currently three cases of suspected Wuhan coronavirus in Edinburgh and as far as I understand one case in Glasgow."