A Droitwich man was barred from every hospital in England after broadcasting from NHS corridors at the peak of the Covid-19 crisis, claiming the pandemic was a hoax.

The 34-old-year was arrested along with three other men from Bromsgrove and Kidderminster. Under the terms of community protection notices they were only allowed to attend hospitals for medical reasons.

Police launched an investigation after videos filmed inside hospitals in Birmingham, Redditch, Worcester and Kidderminster appeared online, before the footage was deleted.

Just days after the arrests in January 2021, the number of UK daily deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test hit a record high of 1,820.

Inspector Lee Page, from West Mercia Police, said: “During the first few days of 2021 the NHS was close to being overwhelmed at the peak of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We received numerous complaints from concerned members of the public and medical staff about the actions of a group of individuals who were live-streaming from hospital sites in Worcestershire, protesting that the pandemic was a hoax.

“The men were not wearing face coverings or socially distancing and some of them were challenging hospital staff, accusing them of spreading fake news and claiming there was no national emergency and no pandemic.

“The behaviour of these people disrupted the running of the hospitals, tied up valuable resources and caused alarm and distress to patients and staff, some of whom made official complaints to police.”

The men were not named by police.