One in five people in Britain fear an economic depression because of the impact of coronavirus and a further 52% expect the country's economy to be in recession within a year, a poll by YouGov showed on Monday.

The number of approvals for mortgages in Britain hit a six-year high in February, before the spread of the coronavirus hammered the economy, Bank of England data showed on Monday.

Britain will ramp up its bid to slow a surge in unemployment during the coronavirus crisis by pledging public money to cover national insurance and pension contributions for companies that temporarily ask employees not to work, as well their pay.

Britain's finance ministry said its plan to cover employers' national insurance and some pension scheme contributions - part of the government's bid to prevent a wave of job losses - could save companies an extra 300 pounds a month for each employee.

The British government will pay grants to self-employed people who have lost their livelihoods because of the coronavirus lockdown, further extending an unprecedented package of measures to prevent the economy from collapsing.