Local people say they are struggling get a winter flu jab as GPs reports shortages of the vaccine across the country.

Brentford MP Ruth Cadbury says a number of local people have contacted her who say they cannot get the jab.

GP surgeries are waiting up to a month for supplies of this winter's flu vaccine amid unprecedented numbers of patients seeking jabs ahead of the second wave of Covid-19, family doctors say.

The Royal College of GPs (RCPG) has written to the health secretary, Matt Hancock, to ask for assurances that there will be enough doses of the vaccine to meet demand.

The shortage has sparked fears that vulnerable groups such as elderly people and those with underlying conditions will go unprotected.

One Brentford resident, Jon Matias,60, said he had contacted the Albany Practice and was told that the over-65s were being given priority.

Mr Matias said: "I contacted them on Friday. I was asked my age and when I told them, they said that at the moment people over 65 were being given priority and I should call back in about a week."

Ms Cadbury said: "I've had a number of constituents contact me who've been unable to get a flu jab.

"The flue jab is extremely important, especially through winter. I've contacted the public health team in Hounslow to raise the issue and have submitted Parliamentary questions to find out what government ministers are doing to tackle this."