There is "zero prospect" of travel ban in and out of London due to the coronavirus outbreak, Downing Street has confirmed.

Boris Johnson's official spokesman poured water on rumours that the capital should expect an imminent lockdown.

The spokesman said: “There are no plans to close down the transport network in London and there is zero prospect of any restrictions being placed on travelling in and out of London.”

Police will continue to be responsible for maintaining law and order and there are no plans to draft in the military for this purpose, he added.

Addressing the government's current advice to all Brits, he said: “The Prime Minister and his advisers have set out the need for social distancing measures to limit the spread of the virus to protect lives.

“What we are focused on is ensuring that as many people as possible take that advice and don’t unnecessarily put themselves in the position where they could be spreading coronavirus.”

It comes after some 40 Tube stations were closed on Thursday, with a reduced service across a swathe of lines.

Transport for London said the plans were designed to allow critical workers to make essential journeys.

Yesterday buses in the capital were reduced and the Waterloo and City line and Night Tube services have stopped running.

The London Mayor stressed that Londoners should not travel unless they "really, really have to", but he insisted the network must remain open to aid front-line health workers.

Sadiq Khan told the London Assembly: “We are clearly still in the early phase of this crisis but the spread of the virus is at a more advanced stage in London than in other parts of the country.

“This means that further measures will need to be introduced at the point at which they will have the biggest effect.”

The mayor also acknowledged that the level of public transport services was “likely to continue to reduce”, potentially “very significantly”.

However, he insisted essential workers would still be able to get around the city.